Tuscany geothermal plans stalled by regional party split, new road tender launched

A split within the ruling regional party in Tuscany has halted the implementation of a geothermal line chosen and approved by local municipalities, despite the renewal of twenty‑year geothermal concessions. The internal conflict pits officials who want to develop the resource for jobs and investment against those who argue that true development should avoid extraction, leaving the project in limbo while the municipalities have already voted in favour of exploitation.

At the same time, the Tuscany regional government has published a tender for the design of a new road linking the Val d'Elsa area with the Larderello geothermal zone. The project, part of a €2.75 billion investment programme, allocates €1.93 million for the preliminary design of a 5‑km stretch between Montecastelli Pisano and the Cecina river. Regional transport assessor Filippo Boni highlighted the road as a strategic step to improve connectivity, and President Eugenio Gianisi has promoted it as essential for the development of the Val d'Elsa region.