Italy has banned ground-mounted solar installations on farmland. The resulting howl of protest from the industry indicates that this decree is expected to effectively relegate solar installations in the country to the rooftop segment, plus only a limited subcategory of land defined as unproductive such as quarries. Aside from other motivations this reform has a stated intention of combatting desertification. Industry organizations such as Elettricità Futura argue that this will prevent Italy from meeting its green energy targets, with for example national trade association Italia Solare stating that this move will cost the country $64.5 billion. “We put an end to the wild installation of ground-mounted photovoltaic panels,” Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida said. Director Giordano Colarullo of the national association…