Sardinia is resisting a wave of wind and solar development driven by Italy's EU renewable energy targets, with over 210,000 residents signing a petition that triggered an 18-month construction moratorium. The opposition is rooted in centuries of exploitation by outside powers — from ancient conquerors to 20th-century petrochemical companies that left behind toxic contamination and economic collapse. Locals frame new energy projects as 'energy colonialism,' with profits flowing to mainland and foreign companies. Despite a Constitutional Court ruling overturning the regional ban, protests continue. Potential paths forward include building on abandoned industrial sites, community-owned energy projects, and a new HVDC submarine cable (Tyrrhenian Link) connecting Sardinia to Sicily and the mainland. Engineers and policymakers are urged to engage with local history and culture before imposing top-down energy transitions.
