A new lease of life for Italian coal-fired power plants. To address the energy crisis, in the event of an emergency, fossil fuels will be allowed to continue to be used until 2038 , thirteen years beyond the deadline set by the National Energy and Climate Plan, which called for a shutdown by December 2025. The extension was included in the billing decree with amendments presented by the League and Azione parties.

The measure also introduces a crackdown on telemarketing and measures to support less polluting transportation. Minister for European Affairs and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), Tommaso Foti, defends the decision: "All energy sources, at least in the immediate future, must be used to their fullest extent." League MPs in the Productive Activities Committee call the extension "fair and responsible" during a time of international energy crisis.

But for the Democratic Party, this is just "dangerous chatter and propaganda," as Andrea Orlando puts it, because the plants have been idle for years and reactivating them will take time. Meanwhile, Green Europe leader Angelo Bonelli accuses the government of "climate-neglect." Environment Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin has repeatedly indicated his intention to keep the Brindisi and Civitavecchia power plants "in reserve," but now the decree allows for a further step. Currently, the ministry estimates that the economic costs of their use would be sustainable if the price of gas were to rise steadily above 70 euros per megawatt-hour, a threshold currently far from the approximately 55 euros seen in recent days.

However, coal would once again become a more convenient source if the regulations on ETS were loosened - or even suspended - at European level, as requested by the Italian government .

Internationally, several countries are returning to coal. In the United States, the Trump administration has removed emissions caps. Japan has decided to increase its use of the most polluting fossil fuel for a year. In Germany, where coal is scheduled to phase out in 2038, Chancellor Friedrich Merz has not ruled out delays.

The bill decree will be presented to the House on Monday, along with other changes approved by the committee. An amendment from the rapporteurs introduces new rules on telemarketing: electricity and gas contracts signed over the phone will be legally void if the user has not formally consented to the use of their data for marketing purposes.

Energy companies will also be required to have mandatory telephone identification, and AGCOM will be able to order the blocking of telephone lines used for unwanted calls. Consumerismo nonprofit calls these measures "consumer-saving." To support transportation, proceeds from ETS (Energy Tax on Carbon Dioxide) auctions will be used to incentivize the shift to low-emission public transportation and the "modal shift from road freight to maritime and rail."

(Unioneonline)

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