Fifty masked attackers targeted a wind farm construction site in Tuscany this month and damaged equipment while driving the workers off site. This highlights growing resistance to wind farms in the Italian countryside despite government growth plans.
The Mona Lisa is known for her enigmatic smile that creates a mix of reactions among viewers. The activities of protestors against wind projects in the Italian countryside that is thought to be the backdrop of the Mona Lisa leave less to the imagination.
Protestors in Italy’s Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna regions have been vocal during recent months about the impacts of wind farms on the countryside – and, earlier this month, a protest against an onshore wind development in Tuscany became violent.
On 2nd July, wind farm developer Agsm Aim reported that 50 masked people stormed the construction site of the 30MW Monte Giogo del Villore wind farm in Tuscany. The attackers reportedly seized equipment including chainsaws, and drove engineers and forestry workers from the site after threatening them with knives.
In addition, on the next evening (3rd July), attackers raided the site and caused severe damage to construction vehicles in a remote corner of it. Some local politicians called the attacks “eco-terrorism” because of their links to local protest groups, including an organisation called Siamo Montagna, which translates as ‘We Are Mountains’.
Monia Monni, environmental chief for Tuscany, called the attacks an “act of terrorism” and pointed out they followed court cases where protestors failed to stop the project.
“With the act we have sent a message to those who want to destroy our mountains,” the group said. Siamo Montagna has previously announced it would set up a ‘Camp of Resistance’ to halt the Monte Giogo del Villore project and has shared critical flyers. Agsm Aim has filed complaints with police about the group and issued legal warnings.
Meanwhile, fellow objectors from the group Crinali Liberi denied involvement in the attacks but said: “The sad truth is that it needed a group of people in masks before anyone started talking about the project.”
The Florence Public Prosector’s Office is now investigating the attacks, which have been widely criticised by renewable energy companies, environmental groups, trade associations and regional counsellors. It is looking at potential charges of aggravated damage, robbery and threats, while also examining the impact of the project itself.
The attacks matter because they highlight growing concerns in Italy about the impacts of wind farms on the countryside, and could lead to a political backlash that derails Italy’s green energy goals.
Renewables generated 40% of Italy’s electricity in 2023 and it is looking to grow this to 65% by 2030. This requires expansion of wind and solar from 13GW and 36GW respectively in 2024, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency.
The protests are not simply about visual impact. Protestors said they want to stop wind projects by Agsm Aim and others because, in some cases, wind farm developers want to build on sites without strong enough wind speeds because they can then gain easy permits and secure government subsidies.
We are sceptical about such claims, as Italy has used competitive auctions to support renewable energy projects since 2019 and has also recently implemented a Contracts for Difference mechanism called FER-X. This guards against the risk of developers taking on uneconomic schemes with unreasonably high strike prices.
More concerning are claims that most of the wind turbines planned in the Italian countryside would violate laws that stop them being installed within 3km of listed sites, and RWE faced controversy in 2024 over a planned seven-turbine project in Umbria because of its location near the historic city Orvieto in Umbria. Protestors have argued that rapid expansion of wind farms in the Italian countryside would undermine tourism.
In addition, other protestors have claimed that farmers have had land expropriated against their knowledge to accompany turbines.
These criticisms matter because it shows developers are likely to face more hostility from locals and protest groups, even if their projects have won all necessary permits.
Protestors may also find a sympathetic ear in Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has advocated growth of nuclear and supported the expansion of Italy’s gas-fired power generation while also taking a pragmatic approach to wind and solar. Her government curbed the rollout of solar installations on agricultural land in legislation last year, for example.
Meanwhile, developers may need to set aside more budget for security at construction sites if the threat of direct attacks continues. Winning permits is one thing, but firms will find it easier to deliver successful projects if they win in the court of public opinion too.
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