In Florence, delays over renewables are causing rifts within the centre-left

Rome. It is not just the regions. When it comes to renewables, the broader political spectrum is also lagging behind at local council level. This is the case in Florence. And, this time, we are not even dealing with a large wind farm or a mega solar panel installation capable of mobilising a sceptical section of the local population. Nothing controversial. We are talking about energy communities (CERs), that is, a group of entities – institutions, businesses or ordinary citizens – who come together to produce, consume and share clean energy. In practical terms, this means a few solar panels on rooftops, which nevertheless guarantee a reduction in energy costs for members of the consortium. Yet in Florence, people have been waiting in vain for three years for the local council to establish its first energy communities. This delay seems less like the anti-renewables ideology of Sardinia’s regional president, Alessandra Todde, and more like administrative red tape – something that would certainly not please Elly Schlein, who, embarrassed by the delays in some centre-left-governed regions, has repeatedly called on everyone to ‘step up the pace’. “Unfortunately,” explains Paola Galgani, the deputy mayor responsible for the environment, to Il Foglio, “there were changes to the regulations on CERs in 2024, and this caused us to lose a bit of time.” But let’s see what happened.

As early as 2023, the local council was due to set up a foundation with a very clear objective: to establish the city’s first renewable energy communities in Districts 4 and 5. The University of Florence and the Metropolitan City are involved in the project alongside the local council. Everything was due to be ready by 2025. By the end of 2026, however, the foundation had not even been established. In recent days, Dmitrij Palagi, a councillor for Sinistra Progetto Comune, has therefore criticised the Florentine city council, having drafted an agenda item on the subject which was subsequently passed unanimously by the entire city council. “The first deadline, included in the single budget document,” recalls Palagi, “was set for the end of 2025. Then, last December, in the update, the deadline was moved to early 2026. Once that had passed too,” the councillor continues, “in the new 2027–2029 document it became ‘by 2026’, but as of 30 June, there was still no sign of the foundation.”

It all began in the autumn of 2023. On 11 October, the council approved the guidelines for two energy communities, in collaboration with the University and the Metropolitan City. The public consultation closed on 29 February 2024 with around 800 applications, of which 431 were deemed valid. Then, according to Palagi, a void: no council or executive committee resolutions on statutes, agreements or facilities. In September 2025, in response to a parliamentary question, the administration admitted that “there was no established timetable”. Yet the funds, at least on paper, are there: the new Planning Document confirms over 2.2 million euros for the first facilities and running costs. There is no lack of enthusiasm to get started, as the Neighbourhood Councils for Districts 1, 3, 4 and 5 have called for the process to be accelerated in their recommendations. Some are proposing a neighbourhood pilot scheme, others are offering their areas as trial sites, whilst others would like to start with families in need. Deputy Mayor Galgani explains the reasons for the delay to Il Foglio: “Unfortunately, the change in legislation regarding the establishment of the CERs has slowed us down, forcing us to carry out several revisions. Now,” she continues, “we are reviewing the financial plan that must accompany the resolution establishing the foundation. We must get this right to ensure it is sustainable and makes the council’s investment in these rooftop photovoltaic systems – which we have identified – a worthwhile one, delivering real benefits to the community.”

At its latest meeting, the City Council unanimously approved Palagi’s agenda. The text calls for action to be taken ‘without delay’ and for the resolution on the foundation – including its articles of association and agreements with the University and the Metropolitan City – to be brought before the Council. It also provides for the communities to be extended to the other districts. However, some amendments have removed the deadline set out in the agenda, namely 30 November. What remains, however, is a reference to the objectives of the Planning Document, which sets 2026 as the deadline: in short, the resolution must be tabled by December. Palagi expresses his thanks and warns that if the foundation is not in place by January, he will hold them to account in the Chamber.

Gianluca De Rosa