Abstract

In the last decade the production of renewable energy has consistently increased all over Europe. Nevertheless the construction of renewable energy plants is often characterized by the rise of unexpected territorial conflicts. This article studies in depth two cases of photovoltaic systems in marginal areas: a former military shooting range in Piedmont and an abandoned mine in Tuscany. In the first case the installation project has been abandoned due to an harsh local conflict whereas in the second case the plant has been built without significant local opposition. The comparative analysis suggests that the decisional process is a crucial factor in explaining the rise and the development of local conflict and that the traditional top-down approach does not pay.