The appeal to encourage the training of renewable energy communities risks remaining a dead letter. There Government crisis with all the effects on the country's energy situation makes allAssociation of Renewable Energy Companies yet another postponement.
The invitation to act quickly and implement a series of actions in the territories was launched by Free-energy coordination. The moment for bringing aggregations of citizens into the reality of the Municipalities is favourable, given that the guidelines of the government are for generalized savings in consumption. In winter there will be the decisive test but it's good to start building everything that will make us feel more protected.
The progress of the communities, however, is slow. It is no longer the time for generic statements - reads the Coordinalmento document - which is addressed directly to the Minister of ecological transition Roberto Cingolani. The Minister maintains that “the energy communities they are a great resource” but the proceedings are delayed. The issuing of decrees is necessary to give certainties to citizens who are waiting for nothing else, to set out on a virtuous path. The final goal, albeit at a local level, is decarbonisation, economic savings and the socialization of energy. Cingolani has not changed his opinion on this and his determination in recent weeks to lower the critical points of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis is recognized.
Energy communities: the appeal of the associations to Cingolani
«Good intentions and words are not enough» explains Livio de Santoli, President of the Free coordination. The appeal appeared in the media to stimulate the government to set times and methods which, incidentally, will certainly not be very rapid. As for delays, the Coordination points out that the implementing decrees were expected for the month of March and now, perhaps, they will arrive in September. However, according to rumors, they could even be postponed to the end of 2022. "It is an intolerable delay that would start the formation processes of the Cer, preventing citizens from organizing themselves to meet the expensive bills that will certainly accompany them throughout 2023", says the note .
Industrialists remind a crawlers that the communities are also a valid aid in the fight against poverty, a condition towards which fossil gas at 170 euros per megawatt hour is pushing thousands of families. Nothing is mentioned about the Draghi government's interventions to lighten excise duties and reduce system burdens. However, communities also need a boost of solidarity among people. Good news comes from Foundation with the South. Last week it launched the "Call for energy and social communities in the South" . There are 1,5 million euros available for new aggregations which in the southern regions would really favor the most disadvantaged families and neighbourhoods. Energy poverty has grown since the beginning of the year, which is why families must submit the application to evaluate the projects by 21 September.
Secondo Legambiente, renewable communities established to date they are just 20 . With the PNRR and the expected 2 billion euros should become hundreds. But only if the government approves the necessary measures and those who want the energy transition not to crash will not be an obstacle.
