Italy Approves €8 Billion Data Center Projects in Lombardy and Piedmont
The Italian government has designated two data center projects as nationally strategic, collectively worth €8 billion. This designation streamlines the approval process, shifting coordination to a government commissioner and reducing local bureaucratic hurdles.

The Italian government has approved two major data center projects in Lombardy and Piedmont, valued at €8 billion, with each project estimated at €4 billion. The first, led by Equinix, involves seven data centers in the Milan metropolitan area, targeting operational readiness by 2033.
In Piedmont, a project at the former Galileo Ferraris power plant is in development, aiming for operational phase initiation by 2028. With construction expected to employ up to 3,700 workers at peak, the long-term job creation remains modest, with fewer than 1,000 permanent positions anticipated.
The strategic designation accelerates the approval process, but local regulations may still face challenges as regional authorities adjust to the new directives. The significant capital investment contrasts with the limited permanent employment opportunities, underscoring a potential imbalance in regional benefits.




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