IDA – Italian Data Center Association welcomes the approval of Draft Law No. 150 by the Lombardy Region, the first regional measure in Italy dedicated to the comprehensive regulation of the data center sector.
This represents a strategic step for the development of digital infrastructure, introducing a clear and structured regulatory framework for a sector that is rapidly growing and increasingly central to the country’s competitiveness.
The law defines criteria and guidelines for the development of data centers, promoting sustainable growth, the reuse of brownfield sites, and greater integration with regional planning. At the same time, it strengthens governance tools and the coordinating role of the Region, contributing to a more efficient and orderly development of the sector.
“In recent months, IDA has worked constructively and in continuous dialogue with regional institutions, contributing to a serious and concrete discussion that led to a balanced and forward-looking regulatory framework,” said Luca Beltramino, President of IDA – Italian Data Center Association.
“We very much welcome the approval of Draft Law No. 150 by the Lombardy Region, a measure that represents a very important step for the future of the data center sector in Italy and Europe.
In recent months, IDA has worked constructively and in ongoing dialogue with the Regional Government and Council members across the political spectrum, contributing to a serious and concrete discussion that made it possible to achieve a balanced, innovative framework capable of supporting the sector’s growth.
We particularly appreciate the recognition of a productive land-use classification for data centers above 5 MW, which provides greater regulatory clarity and a framework consistent with the industrial and strategic nature of our infrastructure.
The introduction of transitional provisions is also important, as it ensures continuity for projects already underway and protects investments at an advanced stage of development, providing certainty for operators and local communities.
We also welcome the decision to strengthen the Region’s coordination role and to establish concrete tools such as a regional steering committee for data centers and a dedicated regional office, which will support more effective governance of the sector’s development, including energy, environmental, and infrastructural aspects.
The Lombardy Region confirms itself as a forward-looking and attentive stakeholder in a sector that is strategic for the country’s digital transformation. As IDA, we will continue to collaborate with regional institutions to ensure that Lombardy can strengthen its role as a European hub for the digital economy, innovation, and data center development.”
With this law, Lombardy positions itself among the most advanced regions in Europe in regulating digital infrastructure and sets a potential benchmark at the national level.
