Tuscan mayors oppose increase in geothermal steam cost, demand protection of territories and sustainable development
The mayors of the geothermal municipalities: "No to the increase in the cost of steam: geothermal energy must continue to create development for the territories."
Monterotondo Marittimo: The mayors of the geothermal municipalities of Tuscany launch an appeal to the Tuscany Region and Enel Green Power against the sharp increase in the cost of steam intended for district heating, businesses, and productive activities. In a joint statement, the mayors express concern about the effects these increases could have on families, companies, and local energy systems, calling for more stable and sustainable rules for price determination. At the heart of the request is the protection of geothermal energy as a strategic resource for economic development, employment, and the competitiveness of territories that have contributed to the production of renewable energy for over a century.
"The Tuscany Region should open an urgent dialogue and evaluate every possible regulatory and legislative initiative aimed at protecting the territories. In particular, we ask to verify the possibility of introducing tools that allow defining certain, transparent, and sustainable criteria for determining the price of steam intended for civil district heating and small and medium-sized enterprises, preventing these costs from being determined solely by fluctuations in the national energy market and ensuring conditions compatible with the development needs of local communities. We also ask Enel Green Power to reconsider this choice and open a concrete dialogue with local administrations, economic categories, and interested businesses."
"The mayors of the geothermal municipalities express strong concern and clear opposition to the increases in the cost of steam applied by Enel Green Power to businesses and productive activities that directly use the geothermal resource."
Thus begins the joint statement of the mayors of the geothermal area in Tuscany with a clear and firm position on the increases in the cost of steam applied by Enel.
"In 2025, Enel Green Power imposed a 117% increase in the price of suitable steam. The mayors of the geothermal municipalities ask the Tuscany Region to open an urgent dialogue and evaluate every possible regulatory and legislative initiative aimed at protecting the territories—say the mayors. In particular, we ask to verify the possibility of introducing tools that allow defining certain, transparent, and sustainable criteria for determining the price of steam intended for civil district heating and small and medium-sized enterprises, preventing these costs from being determined solely by fluctuations in the national energy market and ensuring conditions compatible with the development needs of local communities. We also ask Enel Green Power to reconsider this choice and open a concrete dialogue with local administrations, economic categories, and interested businesses."
"Geothermal energy has been an extraordinary wealth for Tuscany and our communities for over a century—continue the mayors. It is not only a strategic renewable energy source for the regional and national energy system, but also a fundamental tool for economic development, employment, innovation, and stewardship of inland areas. For this reason, we believe that any choice that risks compromising the competitiveness of geothermal businesses must be carefully evaluated and shared with the territories."
"Many companies, agricultural, craft, and production activities have invested over the years, trusting in the availability of a local resource that should have represented a competitive advantage for geothermal areas—they point out. Today, however, we are witnessing a dynamic that risks producing the opposite effect, jeopardizing investments, jobs, and growth prospects."
"We are aware of the industrial needs and economic dynamics affecting Enel Green Power—they continue—but the development of geothermal territories cannot be determined solely by the balance sheet logic of a single company. Geothermal energy is a resource that belongs to the history, identity, and future of our communities, and its exploitation must continue to ensure a balance between industrial sustainability and concrete benefits for territories that have coexisted with the plants for decades and contributed to the success of the Tuscan geothermal district."
"Of particular concern is also the situation of geothermal district heating systems and small and medium-sized enterprises that use geothermal heat in their production processes—observe the mayors. In 2025, Enel Green Power imposed a 117% increase in the price of suitable steam, creating an extremely critical situation for some territories and putting the economic sustainability of several district heating systems at risk. This condition is made even more problematic by the fact that many plants are not sufficiently served by unsuitable steam provided by Enel Green Power itself and are therefore forced to resort to significant shares of suitable steam."
"We do not consider it acceptable that the cost of steam can be subject to annual variations closely linked to the trend of the PUN (Single National Price of electricity)—they declare—transferring to the territories a volatility that has little to do with the actual costs of a local and renewable resource. For some geothermal municipalities, this situation does not represent a simple increase in costs, but produces potentially explosive effects on the budgets of district heating managers, families, businesses, and more generally on the stability of an energy model that for decades has been presented as one of the main benefits deriving from the presence of geothermal energy."
"Geothermal energy must continue to represent a competitive advantage for those who live, work, and invest in geothermal areas—continues the statement. It is unthinkable that families, businesses, and district heating systems are exposed to continuous increases that end up weakening the economic and social fabric of our territories. Only a few months ago, a significant agreement was signed between the Tuscany Region and Enel Green Power that placed the strengthening of territorial benefits from geothermal energy at the center. Today more than ever, it is necessary to fully implement that spirit, so that geothermal energy continues to represent a lever for development and not a factor of difficulty for those who live and produce in geothermal territories."
"Geothermal energy must therefore return to being considered a lever for territorial development and not exclusively a component of Enel Green Power's industrial balance sheet—observe the mayors. Geothermal communities have contributed for over a century to the production of renewable energy for the country and deserve to continue benefiting from sustainable and competitive energy conditions. The challenge is not only to defend the present, but to build the future of geothermal areas. If geothermal energy is to continue being a model of energy transition and sustainability, it must guarantee tangible benefits to communities that have contributed for over a hundred years to the production of renewable energy for the entire country."
"The mayors of the geothermal municipalities are united and determined to represent the needs of the territories at all competent institutional bodies—add the mayors—with the aim of defending families, businesses, jobs, and development prospects of our communities. This press release is transmitted to the President of the Tuscany Region, Eugenio Giani, so that concrete initiatives necessary for the protection of geothermal territories, families, and businesses operating there can be coordinated jointly."
- Giacomo Termine – Mayor of Monterotondo Marittimo
- Nicola Verruzzi – Mayor of Montieri
- Luciana Bartaletti – Mayor of Chiusdino
- Alberto Ferrini – Mayor of Castelnuovo di Val di Cecina
- Graziano Pacini – Mayor of Pomarance
- Francesco Guarguaglini – Mayor of Radicondoli
- Francesco Govi – Mayor of Monteverdi Marittimo
