Democratic Party’s Energy Plan Faces Opposition Scrutiny
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Democratic Party's Energy Plan Faces Opposition Scrutiny
- Elly Schlein, leader of Italy's Democratic Party (PD), sent a letter to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on September 17, 2026, proposing a five-point energy plan funded by €14 billion in EU funds.
- The proposal has been met with criticism from other opposition leaders, including Giuseppe Conte of the Five Star Movement and Angelo Bonelli of AVS, who question the timing and the premise of collaborating with the current government on energy policy.
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Elly Schlein, the secretary of Italy’s Democratic Party (PD), has put forward a five-point plan for energy and climate, outlined in a letter to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on September 17, 2026. The plan proposes utilizing €14 billion in funds, secured as an exception to European budgetary constraints, to implement structural measures aimed at reducing energy costs.
Schlein’s proposal allocates €4 billion to businesses to decrease gas consumption, €2 billion to incentivize the replacement of gas boilers with electric heat pumps, and €3 billion for energy-efficiency upgrades in social housing. Additionally, €3 billion is designated for new public transport infrastructure, including underground lines, trams, and electric buses, with the remaining €2 billion aimed at upgrading electricity networks, developing storage systems, and installing charging points. The plan also calls for a review of electricity taxation.
However, the initiative has generated “friendly fire” from within the opposition. Giuseppe Conte, leader of the Five Star Movement (M5S), expressed his view on September 17, 2026, that conditions are not suitable for collaboration with the Meloni government, particularly given the government’s stance on drilling for fossil fuels. Angelo Bonelli, co-spokesperson for AVS, echoed this sentiment on the same day, arguing that engaging with a government he believes has “sabotaged all environmental and climate policies” is a mistake.
The Meloni government has also been active on energy policy, with measures in February 2026 to cut energy costs for consumers and companies, aiming for up to €5 billion in savings. In June 2026, the European Commission approved a €23 billion Italian state aid scheme to support renewable electricity production, anticipating an additional 37.15 GW of renewable capacity. Furthermore, Italy is progressing with legislation to potentially reintroduce nuclear energy, with a bill approved by the Chamber of Deputies in June 2026. The government also adopted measures in September 2026 to boost domestic oil and gas production to reduce reliance on imports, which are projected to cost nearly €60 billion in 2026.