Wind Power News: Italy
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
After 20 years, hunt for fugitive Sicilian Mafia boss intensifies
Investigators will not say whether they believe an arrest is imminent, but police have ramped up seizures of businesses they believe are fronting for Messina Denaro. Among them are firms that were involved in hosting America’s Cup races in Trapani in 2005; a chain of supermarkets that specialized in hiring mobsters fresh out of jail; and the business empire of Sicilian entrepreneur Vito Nicastri, who attracted foreign investment and European Union funding for wind farms he set up across Sicily.
In April, police concluded the seizure of 43 companies, 98 properties and dozens of accounts totaling $1.7 billion from Nicastri, nicknamed “The Lord of the Wind” and suspected of being at the Cosa Nostra’s disposal.
Progetto per un parco eolico in mare, Petrosino in rivolta: a capo il sindaco
[Petrosino in revolt, the mayor leading, over offshore wind project — Saying no to the possible installation of 48 wind turbines 190 meters high two miles from the coast were the mayor of Petrosino Gaspare Giacalone, associations, environmentalists, and the 5 Stars Movement (M5S). ... "Thinking of placing generators 48 two miles from the coast between Petrosino and Mazara - said Sergio Tancredi of M5S - would mean inexorably changing a pristine environment. Among other things, the affected area is . . .
Manduria, delibera salva-Primitivo: Lombardo “stoppa” l’eolico
[Manduria forest-preserving resolution: Lombardo stops wind — Special Commissioner Aldo Lombardo has effectively stopped dead the uncontrolled proliferation of alternative energy projects. Resolution 75 of May 27 has established very strict limits to new installations of both wind and solar. The measure comes on the tale of a revolt of environmentalists and wine producers who in recent months have erected a veritable wall of "no" against the very real risk of forests and historic farms being plunged into the arms . . .
“No all’impianto di Nicelli se non rispetta la norma regionale”
[No to Nicelli wind plant without respecting regional rules] Piacenza – «La norma è chiara e non può essere diversamente interpretata: per installare impianti eolici sopra i 1200 metri o in area agricola serve un’alta efficienza energetica, non inferiore a 1800 ore di funzionamento alla massima potenza nominale. Il calcolo non può essere fatto considerando le ore equivalenti». È la posizione dell’assessore regionale all’Ambiente e alla Riqualificazione urbana Sabrina Freda, chiarita oggi nel corso della Commissione assembleare su territorio, ambiente . . .
Parchi eolici sequestrati in Toscana e Sicilia
[Wind facilities seized in Tuscany and Sicily] È guerra ai parchi eolici. Nella sola giornata di venerdì due parchi eolici sono stati sequestrati: quello di Zeri, nel massese, e quello del Giunchetto, posto fra i comuni di Nicosia, Leonforte e Assoro. Da venerdì pomeriggio i sigilli della Procura di Parma bloccano la strada d’accesso che da Albareto, nell’Appennino parmense, conduce al crinale di Zeri, situato in Toscana. Lì dovrebbe nascere Vento di Zeri che prevede l’installazione di cinque pale eoliche . . .
Parco eolico del Giunchetto, la Forestale sequestra 36 impianti di produzione
[Forestry Service seizes 36 wind turbines of Giunchetto facility] ENNA – È in corso il sequestro preventivo del parco eolico Giunchetto che sorge nei territori dei Comuni ennesi di Nicosia, Leonforte e Assoro. Ad eseguire il provvedimento il Corpo forestale su disposizione dal Gip del tribunale di Nicosia Stefano Zammuto e richiesta del procuratore capo di Nicosia Fabio Scavone. L’ESPOSTO – L’inchiesta era partita nel novembre del 2010 dopo un esposto dei residenti della zona interessata dal parco che conta . . .
How the Italian Mafia turned clean energy into dirty money
ROME, Italy — If the 1970s mob classic “The Godfather” had been filmed today, you’d see giant wind turbines in the backdrop of scenes around Vito Corleone’s hometown. They’ve sprouted by the dozen in western Sicily, part of a green-power boom fueled by government subsidies. They wouldn’t be out of place. Police have long suspected that much of the money has gone toward lining the pockets of figures such as Matteo Messina Denaro, the head of Cosa Nostra himself and . . .
Italy mafia probe nets 1.3b euros
Italian police say they have seized mafia-linked assets worth 1.3 billion euros ($A1.63 billion) from a Sicilian renewable energy developer. The assets, including 43 wind and solar energy companies, 98 properties and 66 bank accounts, belonged to Vito Nicastri, a 57-year-old businessman dubbed the “Lord of the Wind” for his prominent role in the business. “This is a sector in which money can easily be laundered,” Arturo de Felice, head of Italy’s anti-mafia agency, told news channel SkyTG24 on Wednesday. . . .
Police seize £1.1bn from Italy’s Lord of Windpower over ‘mafia fugitive links’
Italian police have confiscated more than £1.1 billion from one of the country’s renewable energy bosses — who may have been part-funded by the European Union — after alleging links to the country’s most-wanted Mafia fugitive. Police say that Vito Nicastri, 57, known as “Lord of Windpower” for his investment in the wind energy sector, was heavily linked to the Cosa Nostra godfather Matteo Messina Denaro, who tops the most wanted list in Italy. Officers yesterday seized the bulk of . . .
Italy makes huge haul of mafia assets in green energy case
Italy made its biggest confiscation of mafia assets in history on Wednesday, including dozens of alternative energy companies worth a total of 1.3 billion euros (1.1 billion pounds), police said. A court in Trapani on the island of Sicily ordered the definitive confiscation of assets first seized in 2010 from Vito Nicastri, a 57-year-old businessman, who was deemed a front man for the Sicilian mafia, known as Cosa Nostra. Police and magistrates say Nicastri, once dubbed the “Lord of the . . .
