On September 8, a fire broke out in an energy park under construction in the Italian Sardinia of Vidalba, destroying about 5000 photovoltaic modules. The local association said the fire was caused by deliberate arson . The local fire department has confirmed to the media that the fire broke out around 4 A. M. and was extinguished several hours later. According to
media reports, surveillance cameras captured two people getting out of a car and setting solar panels on fire. Local police are currently investigating the case.
It is reported that the energy park where the fire broke out belongs to Avru Limited Liability Company, which has not yet responded publicly to this matter. The Association for Renewable Energy of the
Sardinia (SAPER) and the Italian Federation of Social Mediators for Renewable Energy (FIMSER) called the incident "another violent act by the Sardinia against renewable energy".
"The anti-renewable energy movement , fueled by false and biased news, continues to play on the fears of the population: that of invasion and exploitation, when in fact such fears exist only in the headlines." "Behind this narrative are powerful economic interests linked to natural gas, which aim to maintain the status quo and push Sardinia further behind Italy and the rest of Europe," the two associations said.
At the same time, SAPER and FIMSER said they were not only worried about material damage, but also about subsequent copycat attacks. They called on regional and national governments to intervene to stop the vicious circle of escalating violence.