ENERGY COMMUNITIES: DRIVER FOR PROMOTING ENERGY TRANSITION AND "CONSTITUTIONAL HUMANISM" TOOLS.

Renewable Energy Communities (REC) are slowly becoming an important driver for promoting the energy transition in Europe. This paper addresses in particular the Italian current regulation on ECs, and analyses how they can implement the application of constitutional principles to the energy sector. In order to answer this question, at present, when we look into the different studies that have addressed the issue, it is pertinent to consider the fact that they have focused on constitutional values of landscape, environment, and health protection. The study examines the model of the energy community as a tool that on one hand, by pushing the local community towards participatory forms of democracy; horizontal, and inter and intra-generational solidarity and on the other hand, helps the local authorities to develop integrated urban planning actions in order to improve the quality of life of citizens. Therefore, it demonstrates how energy communities, especially renewable ones, are an important instrument of "constitutional humanism". They are not only environmental or climatic, but also specifically aimed at the development of the centrality of the Person. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]