If Italian People elect Renewable Energy
13 Jun 2011 Leave a Comment
in laws, codes, and regulations Tags: 2011, energy, energy saving, Italy, nuclear power, photovoltaic, referendum, renewables, solar, sustainability
It is with deep joy that we report here the results of the referendum that just finished today in Italy.
With the highest voter turnout in the last 15 years (for a referendum), the Italian People decided to cancel decisions made by the Berlusconi Government, which now seems even closer to imploding.
The data have been published by La Repubblica at 17:00 today, Monday June 13th 2011. Translation by Enrico Bonilauri.
The minimum compulsory voters turnout (50%+1 of total eligible voters, about 23 million people) has been reached for all questions of the referendum.
The purpose of the referendum was to cancel laws that the Berlusconi Government issued, so that “YES” meant to calcel a law. For example, to cancel a law that allows privatisation of public water, voters had to vote “YES” (the actual question was: “Do you want to abrogate law XYZ?”)
Here’s the results of the vote:
1) Privatization of Public Water: YES win with 94,5%;
2) Profit on Privately-run Water Supply: YES win with 94,9%;
3) Nuclear Power: YES win with 94,3%;
4) “Legittimo impedimento” (just another law to keep Berlusconi out of trials): YES win with 95,1%.
This means that all four laws have been cancelled and are now no longer valid.
The Government opposed to this vote in any possible way. The public broadcast “service“, RAI, was punished in multiple occasions due to the lack of information (and the amount of disinformation) given.
However, the Italian People proved to be strong and mature, capable of taking independent decisions for the future of the Country.
In particoular, Italy confirmed to give up nuclear power, in line with the first referendum about the same topic that took palce in the 1980s.
The Berlusconi Government had decided to completely ignore that popular vote, and signed an agreement with France to receive the necessary technology to build new nuclear power plants in Italy.
The referendum that just ended reaffirms Italy’s will to give up a technology – nuclear power – that we do not really master.
We now hope that the Government will increase incentives and tax breaks for renewable energy sources, with focus on the most renewable source of all: energy saving.
