The Sicilian businessman known as the “King Of Wind” had his kingdom stripped last week when Italian police seized nearly 2 Billion worth of assets from the renewable energy developer in Italy’s biggest-ever seizure of mafia-linked assets. While we (and most sailors) have a soft spot for wind-power advocates, this dude – Vito Nicastri – was essentially a bagman for the Sicilian Mafia’s most-wanted fugitive, investing money made from extortion, drug sales and other illegal activities for Matteo Messina Denaro, who is believed to be the [Mafia syndicate] Cosa Nostra’s head boss.
With their seizure of 43 wind and solar energy companies, 98 properties and 66 bank accounts, Italy becomes one of the largest alternative energy producers in the Mediterranean. Any bets on how long it takes Italian bureaucrats to fuck it all up completely?
For a deeper look at the dirtier side of clean energy, have a look at this good Proedgewire.com piece.
