It's a remarkable story. In central Italy, where ancient towns and villages are tucked into the mountainous landscape, suddenly giant wind turbines can be seen on the horizon.
Faced with sky-high electricity rates, small communities across a country known more for garbage than environmental citizenship are finding economic salvation in making renewable energy. More than 800 Italian communities now make more energy than they use because of the recent addition of renewable energy plants.
A quintessential Italian town of 2,700 people in Italy's poor mountainous center, with its well-maintained church and ruined castle, Tocco is in most ways stuck in yesteryear. Old men talking politics fill gritty bars, and old women wander through the market. The olive harvest is the most important event on the calendar.
Yet, from an energy perspective, Tocco is very much tomorrow. In addition to the town's wind turbines, solar panels generate electricity at its ancient cemetery and sports complex, as well as at a growing number of private residences.
