This contribution disentangles the paradoxical nature of energy consumption, which can have the citizen as active prosumer of energy, but also as potential victim of health risks posed by energy production. The response of the citizen and of the regulatory framework to this contradiction are inspected. The paradox is illustrated through the analysis of a case study, the AnalyzeBasilicata initiative in Southern Italy, which denounced the adverse effects of energy production in a region that heavily relies on extractive activities.This contribution disentangles the paradoxical nature of energy consumption, which can have the citizen as active prosumer of energy, but also as potential victim of health risks posed by energy production. The response of the citizen and of the regulatory framework to this contradiction are inspected. The paradox is illustrated through the analysis of a case study, the AnalyzeBasilicata initiative in Southern Italy, which denounced the adverse effects of energy production in a region that heavily relies on extractive activities.