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Italian community opposition to data center developments

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2026-10-10 06:51 UTC → 2026-10-13 08:56 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Local communities in the Lombardy region of Italy are mobilizing against the proposed construction of numerous data centers. In Saronno, the newly formed Osservatorio Data Center Saronnese organized a public meeting to address concerns regarding 22 potential facilities within a ten-kilometer radius, citing a lack of institutional communication. Simultaneously, activism has intensified in nearby Cesate and Magenta. In Cesate, the Comitato per la Tutela del Territorio submitted a formal letter to the mayor, supported by a petition of 1,018 citizens, demanding a public assembly to discuss the infrastructure and territorial effects of a project on via Ruggero Leoncavallo. In Magenta, the #NODATACENTER campaign is conducting information drives to address what activists describe as a significant information gap regarding the environmental, energetic, and urbanistic impacts of these developments. On September 26, the movement expanded beyond regional activism with the official establishment of the ‘Rete nazionale dei Comitati Stop Data Center’ (National Network of Stop Data Center Committees) in Milan. This initiative seeks to unite regional groups opposing data center expansion to protect local territories from environmental impacts. On October 9, 2026, the National Network formally requested a national moratorium on new authorization procedures for data center construction. The request was submitted to the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, Parliament, various ministries, and the Lombardy Region. The committees argue that current developments lack sufficient national programming to manage cumulative impacts on soil, water, energy, and air quality. They are calling for a temporary suspension to allow for the adoption of a National Plan for Data Center Development and localization, subject to Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). The group also seeks a review of accelerated authorization procedures and updates to environmental guidelines.

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