The ‘Environmental Protection’ Decree-Law approved by the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies: farewell to hydrocarbons and more room for renewables?

Promotion of renewable energy

The law focuses on speeding up projects linked to clean energy sources, considered a priority for achieving decarbonisation targets. These include photovoltaic plants with a nominal capacity of at least 50 MW, wind farms of at least 70 MW, and green hydrogen and agrivoltaic projects. Priority is given to works that involve improving existing infrastructure or building new plants with a highly positive environmental impact.

Simplification of environmental assessment procedures

To reduce bureaucratic delays, the legislation introduces leaner procedures for environmental authorisations. In particular, an order of priority is established for strategic national projects, integrated management between ministries is envisaged to ensure greater coordination, and strict time limits are introduced for completing environmental impact assessments.

Remediation of contaminated sites

The law pays particular attention to areas damaged by pollution, providing for remediation plans for contaminated sites, with dedicated resources and simplified procedures. Targeted measures are planned to meet the deadlines of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).

Circular economy and waste management

To promote more efficient use of resources, the legislation introduces measures for the recovery and reuse of materials. Among the main new features are the inclusion of public and private green space maintenance among the categories eligible for relief, and incentives for the integrated management of waste from major infrastructure works.

Water resource management

The legislation addresses the water crisis with targeted measures, such as the reuse of treated wastewater for agricultural and industrial purposes, and the upgrading of the water network to mitigate shortages.

The conversion of the decree into law is a crucial step in addressing environmental challenges, but publication is still awaited, which will confirm the actual entry into force of the text, which will probably include amendments to what is described here. For further information, see the page for bill S.1272 on the Senate website.