On June 4, 2026, the Italian Chamber of Deputies voted to reestablish nuclear power in the country, passing an enabling law that grants the government authority to draft operational regulations for small modular reactors (SMRs) and other next-generation nuclear technologies within 12 months. The vote tallied 155 in favor, 86 against, and 8 abstentions, sending the measure to the Senate where final approval is expected before the August recess.
Why This Matters
• Timeline acceleration: The government aims to have implementing decrees finalized by December 2026, paving the way for Italy's first domestic nuclear energy production since the 1987 referendum ban.
• Funding commitment: €60 M is allocated over 2027–2029 to support early-stage deployment and infrastructure planning.
• Industry participation: The law explicitly requires Italian firms to have roles in the supply chain, from reactor construction to fuel processing.
• Target date: Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin projects Italy could begin generating nuclear electricity by 2035, though critics argue timelines are optimistic.
What the Enabling Law Does
The "Pichetto" bill—named after the Italy Ministry of Environment and Energy Security head—doesn't authorize specific reactors or sites right away. Instead, it gives the government 12 months to create detailed rules in six key areas:
Building and running small reactors, including where they can go, how to get permits, and safety rules.
Hydrogen production using nuclear heat, helping Italy tap clean energy markets.
Making and recycling nuclear fuel, reducing dependence on foreign suppliers.
Cleaning up old reactor sites, working alongside plans for a national waste storage facility.
Developing fusion energy, a longer-term technology still being tested.
Setting up oversight agencies, clarifying which government bodies handle permits, inspections, and emergencies.
The law also directs the government to streamline the approval process, create compensation funds for communities hosting reactors, and ensure safety standards match European Union requirements. Critics worried that speeding up approvals might skip important environmental checks, but government supporters argued the current 40-year regulatory vacuum creates its own risks.
What This Means for Residents: The Bottom Line First
Don't expect lower electricity bills anytime soon. Even if Italy hits the 2035 target, multiple factors could delay any actual savings reaching your wallet. Here's what you need to know:
Will My Bills Go Down?
Maybe—but not for many years. A Bank of Italy analysis suggests nuclear power could reduce wholesale electricity prices by providing steady, predictable power and reducing reliance on imported gas. A single 1-GW reactor would prevent roughly 7 million tons of CO₂ emissions annually. However, the same report warns of "significant uncertainty" about actual cost savings. Your bill relief depends on how the project is financed:
• If the state backs the project: Taxpayers (including you) could cover cost overruns.
• If private companies build it: They'll demand long-term power contracts at prices that may not undercut today's renewable energy deals.
Timeline Realism: Why 2035 Is Optimistic
Here's the catch: no country in Europe has successfully launched a small modular reactor yet. Poland and France are trying, but they're running years behind schedule. Industry experts estimate that realistic timelines place first-generation SMRs in service around 2030–2032 at the earliest, meaning Italy's 2035 goal assumes everything goes smoothly—fast permitting, supply chains ready, local communities accepting reactors.
Cost surprises are common. Research shows SMR construction in Western Europe runs between €4,000 to €6,000 per kilowatt—pricier than Eastern Europe because of labor and stricter regulations. One recent analysis found that a project's estimated costs jumped 53% between 2021 and 2024, driven by a 75% surge in construction expenses. These overruns often translate to higher electricity prices.
Waste and Community Concerns
The law requires integrating spent nuclear fuel into Italy's long-stalled National Repository plan—a waste storage facility that's been debated for decades without a final location. Communities that might host reactors will demand compensation packages and rigorous environmental reviews. Local referendums could slow or block projects if public opposition builds, as it has historically in Italy.
Political and Scientific Divisions
The 86 no votes in the Chamber reflect real skepticism. Angelo Bonelli of the Green-Left Alliance called the bill "election propaganda," arguing that small reactors are still prototypes with construction timelines stretching 20 to 25 years and costs far exceeding solar and wind. He contends that all public investment should flow to renewables instead.
Technical experts are more divided. Marco Ricotti, a nuclear engineering professor at Politecnico di Milano and leader of Italy's nuclear research consortium, supports the bill but insists success requires transparent costs, efficient regulation, and parallel renewable expansion. The Bank of Italy acknowledged nuclear's role in fighting climate change but warned that relying on advanced reactors and fuel from a handful of countries could simply swap dependence on Russian gas for dependence on uranium suppliers and foreign technology.
Scientist Nicola Armaroli offered a sobering perspective: nuclear's share of global electricity generation has halved over recent decades, a reminder that economic pressure and competing technologies have stalled nuclear growth worldwide.
European Context: Italy Isn't Alone
Italy's move aligns with a broader European Commission strategy to accelerate small modular reactors across the continent. The EU's Industrial Alliance on Small Modular Reactors, active since February 2024, unites over 350 companies, research institutes, and public bodies to standardize licensing rules, pool financing, and strengthen supply chains. Hungary, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Romania, Finland, Sweden, Slovenia, and the Netherlands are all pursuing nuclear projects. The United Kingdom selected Rolls-Royce's SMR design and expects first units in the mid-2030s.
France, with its dominant nuclear fleet, is pursuing both large conventional reactors and small modular designs. Italy's participation in the NUWARD joint safety review gives the country a voice in defining European standards—an advantage that could speed domestic approvals if everything proceeds on schedule.
What Happens Next
The Senate will debate the law in coming weeks. If it passes—likely given the government's majority—the 12-month clock starts for drafting detailed regulations covering licensing, safety, site selection, waste management, and agency oversight. Public consultation and environmental reviews will follow, meaning actual construction is unlikely before 2028 or 2029.
The €60 M allocated through 2029 is a starting budget—billions more will be needed from EU recovery funds, state-backed loans, or private investment. The government plans to involve Italian manufacturers in building components, reviving nuclear expertise dormant since the 1987 referendum shut down Italy's four reactors.
Impact on Expats and International Workers
For multinational firms and data-center operators searching for locations across the EU, Italy's nuclear policy could eventually provide reliable, low-carbon electricity. In the near term, permitting delays and construction timelines mean renewables and gas will keep powering the grid. Expats worried about energy costs shouldn't expect immediate relief; the 2035 horizon—plus possible delays—suggests that today's high wholesale prices will persist for years unless renewables expand faster.
Communities hosting reactors may benefit from job creation and local infrastructure funding. However, property values near proposed reactor sites could face pressure if public opposition mobilizes, as historical precedent shows nuclear projects can deeply divide regions and affect real-estate markets.
How Italy's Nuclear Path Compares to Neighbors
Unlike France, which never shut down nuclear, or Poland, starting fresh with aggressive timelines, Italy must rebuild regulatory expertise, train new engineers, and overcome public fears rooted in Chernobyl and Fukushima memories. Using an enabling law—delegating rule-making to the executive rather than parliament—aims to avoid prolonged gridlock, but it also concentrates power and could face legal challenges if stakeholders feel left out.
The €60 M budgeted trails far behind the hundreds of millions Poland and the UK are investing in nuclear programs, raising questions about whether Italy's financial commitment matches its ambitions.
The Bigger Picture: Nuclear as Part of Italy's Energy Future
Nuclear is presented as a complement to renewables, not a replacement. The government has committed to expanding wind and solar to meet 2030 EU climate goals, yet grid operators warn that intermittent renewable generation requires either massive battery storage or reliable backup power. Small modular reactors, capable of adjusting output and supplying industrial heat, are pitched as that backup. Whether the economics work out—especially as renewable costs continue falling—will determine if Italy's nuclear renaissance actually happens or remains a policy goal overtaken by market reality.
