Lombardy introduces increased charges of up to 200% for the construction of data centres in green and agricultural areas - Il Sole 24 OREVai alla navigazione principaleVai al contenutoVai al footerNavigazioneSubscribeTranslated by AIVai alla versione italianaEnergy and environmentEconomySubscribeToday's paperSign inEconomyEnergy and environmentVideoFotoPodcastLab2424+SubscribeSign inEconomyLombardy introduces increased charges of up to 200% for the construction of data centres in green and agricultural areasServizioServizioContenuto basato su fatti, osservati e verificati dal reporter in modo diretto o riportati da fonti verificate e attendibili.Scopri di piùThe StandardLombardy introduces increased charges of up to 200% for the construction of data centres in green and agricultural areasThe new regional law aims to curb the uncontrolled expansion of data centres, encouraging the reuse of disused industrial areas and ensuring control over the environmental and energy impact.by Sara Monaci27 May 20263' min readTranslated by AIFor feedback, please contact english@ilsole24ore.comVersione italiana3' min readTranslated by AIFor feedback, please contact english@ilsole24ore.comVersione italianaLombardy tries to regulate data centres. It is the first Region in Italia to approve alaw aimed at discouraging their construction, through a considerable tightening of construction charges: 100% more than today in agricultural areas and 200% more in parks.The rule was approved on 26 May 2026 by the regional council after a long debate, which also saw partial cooperation from the centre-left opposition (during the vote, three democrats abstained and three walked out of the chamber).Loading...The final OK came not without surprises: while the initial draft spoke of an increase in charges of between 50 and 75 per cent, for rural areas and parks respectively, the increase will now be 100 per cent in rural areas and 200 per cent in green areas (after the amendment of the Lega group leader, Alessandro Corbetta).A sting that should serve not to stop but at least to discourage the tendency to buy areas with the aim - often without clear timeframes and plans, Lombardy's top management notes - of building data centres.The reason why Lombardy is ahead not only of the other regions, but also of the government itself, is that it has the largest number of projects implemented or to be implemented.Loading...There are already 33 active data centres in the Milan metropolitan area alone; a further 10 are under construction and 23 under evaluation. If the Milan hinterland is the most 'targeted' area, an increase in interest is also registered in the other provinces: in the rest of Lombardy there are three already active, plus one under construction and five under evaluation. Lombardy alone accounted for 63% of the applications submitted throughout Italia.The estimate of the Department of Local Authorities and Energy Resources is that of the 22 billion investments initiated throughout the country, half are concentrated on Lombardy's soil, on the basis of sudden plans, moreover, that will be developed in just five years.Among those who have chosen to focus on the data economy, investing in Lombardy, are Amazon, Aruba, Eni and Stack Emea, to give a few examples.'We cannot, in the light of these numbers, block the development of companies and employment, the race for artificial intelligence is already a fact,' says Lombardy councillor Massimo Sertori. 'We can, however, try to keep the phenomenon under control by avoiding excesses and the exaggerated exploitation of the territory.The law, therefore, provides a strong disincentive to build in green areas, where the impact would not be environmentally sustainable, but at the same time the use of disused former industrial areas is favoured. In this case there are no additional burdens, but rather the law proposes bureaucratic simplifications.With regard to the concerns about the risk of out-of-control energy consumption, councillor Sertori tends to downplay them, however: 'We have applications for 30 Gigawatts throughout Italia, half of which are in Lombardy. But in our area, seeing the real and more concrete projects, we should only authorise a maximum of 2 gigawatts of energy. With this law we intend to fill a gap, with certain rules and uniform procedures for investments'.According to the Lombardy law Terna will be part of the steering committee and will map the availability of energy at the sites.From the opposition spoke the democrat Matteo Piloni: 'In Lombardy we have tried to fill the void of the Meloni government on industrial policies. The development of data centres is necessary but it cannot be left to chance or to the market alone, a political vision is needed. However, this law lacks real and decisive soil protection, because neither the government nor the region have put in place stringent constraints. We will have to wait for a national law.Copyright reserved ©Per approfondireData centres, retail and hotels drive, but the market is more selectiveGrowing data centre market seeks project managers and hybrid rolesData centres, 25 billion projects by 2028Sara MonaciScheda autoreTrust projectLoading...Brand connectLoading...I prossimi eventiTutti gli eventi NewsletterNotizie e approfondimenti sugli avvenimenti politici, economici e finanziari.IscrivitiFooterBack to topApp disponibile su:Google Play App storeVAT 00777910159 Financial data © Copyright Il Sole 24 Ore All rights reserved Advertising:  24 Ore System Cookie policy Privacy policy Accessibility TDM Disclaimer

Lombardy has implemented a new regional law designed to regulate the construction of data centers, marking the first time in Italy that a region has approved legislation aimed at discouraging their uncontrolled expansion through significantly increased construction charges. This regulatory framework seeks to control the environmental and energy impact of these developments while encouraging the reuse of disused industrial areas. The new rules involve imposing increases in construction charges, specifically 100 percent more in agricultural areas and up to 200 percent more in green areas, an amendment resulting from the action of the Lega group leader, Alessandro Corbetta.

The motivation behind this regulation stems from the rapid development of data centers in the region, which Lombardy has led, accounting for 63 percent of applications submitted across Italy. This regional leadership is supported by the fact that half of the 22 billion investment projects initiated nationwide are concentrated in Lombardy, which are projected to be developed within five years. Major entities, including Amazon, Aruba, Eni, and Stack Emea, are among those investing in the Lombardy area for the data economy.

While the legal measures introduce strong disincentives against building in environmentally sensitive green areas, the law simultaneously favors the use of disused former industrial areas by offering bureaucratic simplifications instead of additional burdens. Regarding concerns about energy consumption, local officials maintain that the focus is on managing overall development rather than halting it entirely. For instance, a local councillor suggested that while applications for 30 gigawatts are present across Italy, Lombardy should authorize a maximum of 2 gigawatts of energy in its local area, aiming to fill a gap through uniform investment procedures. To monitor energy availability, Terna will be involved in mapping energy resources at the project sites.

The political discourse surrounding this development reflects a tension between economic necessity and environmental protection. While some politicians emphasized the necessity of data center development, others stressed the need for stringent soil protection. The opposition pointed out that the existing legal provisions lacked decisive constraints, suggesting that further national legislation is required to ensure robust protection measures. This situation highlights a broader tension between the drive for technological and economic growth, exemplified by the artificial intelligence race, and the imperative to manage territorial exploitation sustainably. Furthermore, the market for data centers itself is evolving, showing a trend toward greater selectivity, with a growing demand for project managers and hybrid roles.