“Dear Prime Minister, let’s join forces on climate and energy.” The Democratic Party says it is ready for a discussion with the government on the use of the 14 billion euros that Italy could use by 2028 to accelerate the energy transition. This is what the Democratic secretary, Elly Schlein, underlines in a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, published by the newspaper La Repubblica, in which she proposes a precise plan, structured in five interventions.
This is a package of five measures with a total cost of 14 billion euros which can be recovered thanks to the 0.6% of GDP exemption from budget constraints granted by the European Union for investments in the energy sector. In essence, Brussels allows exceeding the agreements on the public deficit for a three-year period, but the resources must be made available by the individual states. The financial coverage would come from the issuance of new public debt. We talked about it here.
The dialogue on resources
“As the Democratic Party we are open to dialogue on how to best use these resources, and in this constructive spirit we offer our proposal for a five-intervention plan, based largely on already existing and fully implementable measures, which could significantly contribute to the country’s energy resilience”, wrote Elly Schlein to the prime minister.
The details of the plan
In detail, the plan provides for the allocation of two billion “to double the resources of the thermal account, the non-repayable contribution in favor of private individuals, public administrations and the third sector for the replacement of fossil fuel air conditioning systems with electric heat pumps. It would help reduce energy poverty which affects 9% of Italian families”.
The incentive Schlein talks about is already operational. Managed by the GSE (the energy services manager), the thermal account reimburses up to 65% of the expense for those who replace old polluting heating systems (such as gas or oil boilers) with efficient and renewable systems, such as heat pumps. The thermal account can be requested both by private individuals (to replace existing systems) and by public bodies. The fundamental difference with the classic construction bonuses is that in this case the reimbursement does not take place with tax deductions, but with a direct transfer.
Home and transport plan
Not only that, because the increase of three billion “in the resources allocated by the government’s housing plan for the energy requalification of ERP housing is also contemplated, for the benefit of the families most exposed to high bills”. Here is another point: “The destination of four billion to support companies in the conversion of production processes and reduce the consumption of natural gas”, added the dem secretary in the letter. Furthermore, the strategy also includes “the refinancing with three billion of the single fund for metropolitan networks and rapid mass transport”, and finally “an investment of two billion for the strengthening and efficiency of electricity networks, storage systems, batteries and charging infrastructure”.
Among other proposals, Elly Schlein also calls for a review of the taxation on electricity, “currently higher than that on gas”. These are, concluded the secretary of the Democratic Party, “concrete interventions, sustainable and consistent with the needs of the country. Their implementation requires a strategic vision and the will to tackle the climate and energy crisis not only with emergency measures, but with policies capable of producing lasting benefits for families, businesses and territories”.