Italy simplifies geothermal energy permitting
Geothermal energy, which uses the earth's inner heat for heating and also turns it into electricity by using special power plants, accounts for 10 percent of all renewable energy sources in Italy and its potential may be doubled, it said in a statement.
Italy's geothermal plants produce 5 billion kilowatt hours of power a year which is enough to meet needs of about 6 million people, the ministry said.
The ministry did not give details on a new decree to simplify geothermal projects' authorization. Italy is notorious for lengthy permitting procedures for industrial projects.
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TORONTO - The first of May has taken on new meaning this year in Ontario.
It's when the province's ban on hydro disconnections during the winter months comes to an end.
Wendy Watson, the director of communications at Greater Sudbury Utilities, says signs of the approaching deadline could be seen in their office of the past few weeks.
"We've had quite an active stream of people into our front office to catch up on their accounts and also we've had a lot of people calling us to make payment arrangements or pay their bill or deal with their arrears," she says.
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Watson says there are…