Guidelines for Energy Communities in Parishes and Dioceses, as outlined in the Vademecum
The Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI) has unveiled a comprehensive guidebook titled "Renewable Energy Communities: Ethical, Technical, Economic-Legal Elements for Religious Entities." The guidebook, spanning over seventy pages, aims to help religious entities play an active role in the energy transition and combat energy poverty.
Produced by the Technical Table on Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) of the CEI, the guidebook offers a roadmap for the establishment of a Renewable Energy Community (REC). This roadmap is subject to updates in terms of regulations, market, and pastoral care, ensuring it remains relevant and practical.
The guidebook is designed to serve as a guide for parishes, dioceses, and religious entities, not limiting its scope to these entities alone. It contains information specific to the establishment of a REC and is intended for religious entities ready to participate in the energy transition.
The guidebook outlines key ethical, technical, and economic-legal elements for religious entities in establishing RECs. Ethical elements emphasize the commitment to social solidarity, care for creation, and the Church’s mission of peace and justice. Technical elements involve understanding and complying with all regulatory requirements and preliminary technical standards necessary to create and operate RECs. Economic-legal elements relate to navigating the legal structures for establishing RECs, including managing institutional affairs, contractual matters, and governance within energy communities.
The guidebook includes a section dedicated to important recommendations. It highlights the importance of stability in regulatory frameworks that enable effective activation and operation of energy communities, including technological integration and sustainable energy production. The guidebook also emphasizes the need for these entities to operate within appropriate legal norms, contribute to local economies, and sustain themselves financially while promoting inclusiveness and transparency.
Monsignor Santoro of CEI notably presented this vision at the 2023 Meeting di Rimini, linking it to the Church’s social week and programmatic efforts supporting the creation and development of RECs in Italy. Thus, religious entities engaging in RECs under CEI guidance focus on integrating the ethical mission of the Church with the technical compliance and economic-legal sustainability of renewable energy projects, promoting community welfare and environmental stewardship.
The guidebook provides tools and methodologies for local churches and religious entities, making it an invaluable resource for those seeking to contribute to the energy transition in a responsible and sustainable manner.
- The comprehensive guidebook by the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI) is designed to help religious entities actively participate in combating climate-change by transitioning to renewable-energy, specifically in the establishment of Renewable Energy Communities (RECs).
- The technical elements included in the CEI guidebook involve understanding and complying with all regulatory requirements and preliminary technical standards necessary to create and operate RECs, which aligns with the environmental-science of sustainable energy production.
- The economic-legal section of the guidebook offers insights on navigating the legal structures for establishing RECs, including managing institutional affairs, contractual matters, and governance within energy communities, which is crucial for the finance and business aspects of renewable-energy projects.
- By incorporating the ethical mission of the Church through social solidarity, care for creation, and the Church’s mission of peace and justice, religious entities engaging in RECs under CEI guidance promote industry practices that are both technically compliant and economically sustainable while ensuring environmental stewardship.
