Against the energy crisis: Bundesrat wants faster approval procedures for power plants

class=”sc-29f61514-0 jbwksb”>

Solar power plants, wind farms and hydropower plants of national importance must be planned and approved more quickly. Parliament can now comment on the Federal Council’s decree to speed things up.

Today it can take up to 20 years for a system to be planned and approved. This is evident from the delays in the mega solar project in Grengiols US. With the amendments to the Energy Act proposed by the Bundesrat in the message to the council members, this should happen more quickly for systems of national importance in the future. The Bundesrat wants parliament to discuss the bill as early as August.

Fewer opportunities to speak up

On the one hand, the expansion of domestic electricity production from solar energy as well as wind and hydropower should contribute to achieving the climate targets that were approved in the vote on Sunday and are now legally enshrined. On the other hand, enlargement should reduce Switzerland’s dependence on other countries.

According to the Spatial Development Agency (ARE) on Thursday, there should now be a concentrated approval process for solar and wind power plants in the cantons. In the future, only the canton of the location should approve the construction of factories and their extensions and renovations.

He will also give the approvals that the municipality is issuing today. However, the municipalities should not be left out of consideration, but should be involved in the process at an early stage. However, the law does not give the cantons a precise interpretation of this.

Maximum 180 days

The concentrated procedure, which runs from usage planning to building permit, is designed to avoid dividing a project into phases and challenging each individual decision all the way to the Federal Supreme Court. The procedure must be completed within 180 days of the submission of all documents.

In the case of hydropower plants, however, the Federal Council wants to stick to the previous two-part procedure. According to the message, the Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communication (UVEK) wants to comply with a request from the cantons and the electricity sector on this point.

In addition, the Federal Council proposes an abridged legal procedure for the planning and construction of solar, wind and hydroelectric power plants. At subdistrict level, complaints should only be possible with the higher subdistrict court. This should decide after all documents are available within 180 days. This decision may be appealed to federal court.

Local and cantonal organizations are not allowed to object

Only local communities and cantons and national organizations should be able to object. The ARE cites WWF, Pro Natura and the Landscape Management Foundation as examples. According to the Federal Council, local and cantonal organizations should no longer be allowed to file complaints against plans.

Projects should also move faster if the cantons designate areas in their master plans that are suitable for solar and wind energy, taking into account the interests of landscape protection, biotopes, forests and agriculture. If installations of national importance are planned in such an area, the structure plan no longer needs to be substantiated per project.

The expansion of the electricity grid is also being accelerated

Planning for the expansion of the electricity grid must also be speeded up. The federal government should refrain from specifying a plan area for power lines – they lead from power plants to local and regional distribution networks. A new planning corridor must be defined and then the routing of the lines in the corridor must be determined.

The Acceleration Decree is one of four proposals to strengthen the domestic electricity supply. The limited “Solar Express” for more winter power is already in effect. In the summer, the municipalities added a temporary “wind express”. This should come into effect at the beginning of 2024 and allow for rapid implementation of projects that are well advanced in terms of planning.

Finally, the so-called general decree, which is intended to regulate the supply of renewable energy to Switzerland, is being discussed in parliament. The provisions of the Acceleration Decree are intended to supplement the General Decree and are intended to replace the temporary “Express” templates. (SDA/sq)

Source:Blick