Environmentalists File Complaint Against Trift Dam: Will Hydropower Compromise Go Away?

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More electricity? Yes please. But where? There is a bitter debate about this. Two environmental organizations have filed a complaint against the construction of a dam in the Trift area of ​​Bern. The “Observer” first reported on it. “The Trift is a natural jewel and a habitat for highly endangered animal species that must be protected,” says SP state councilor Martina Munz (68), who justifies the resistance. She is chairman of Aqua Viva, one of the two organizations that filed the complaint. “Instead of destroying the last part of untouched nature, the population is more accepting of the expansion of existing hydropower. We not only have a climate crisis, but also a biodiversity crisis.”

The Trift project is one of fifteen projects that the major environmental associations agreed on during a round table discussion with the cantons and energy companies. They should be built faster. A compromise that has now been enshrined in law. However, an appeal remains possible.

“The rules of the game are not being followed”

“The rules of the game are not being followed. It was agreed that the projects would be investigated and that existing laws would be respected,” Munz criticizes. “On the one hand, promised replacement and compensatory measures to protect biodiversity are being cut back to save costs, and on the other hand, Parliament has also taken up the Chlus project, which did not meet the criteria during the roundtable.”

Munz adds: “We demand a technically and legally correct and fair weighing of interests and a realistic consideration of concerns about the protection of nature and the landscape compared to energy consumption.”

Trift is the third largest project of the round table. Nevertheless, Munz says, “Overall, this is only one-hundredth of the winter electricity needed; more solar energy is needed for existing homes and infrastructure systems.”

“Querulatory complaint”

There is great anger among supporters of the Trift project. The operators expect a delay of at least two years – if it goes to federal court, it will take even longer.

Bernese government councilor Christoph Ammann (54, SP) does not mince his words in his speech to the “Berner Zeitung”. He speaks of a ‘question complaint’ and ‘sham arguments’. The planned compensatory measures would go far beyond legal requirements.

What does this mean for the round table?

Are the results of the round table a waste? Reassure other participants. The WWF writes: “We still stand behind the results.” They also supervised the Trift project and – unlike Aqua Viva – generally reached a positive assessment. However, the WWF reminds: the Trift operators and the canton “still have a task” when it comes to additional compensatory measures to protect nature and the landscape. We are confident that a good solution will be found through dialogue.

Axpo sat at the round table as a representative of the energy suppliers. The delay is regrettable. “There must be more willingness to compromise among all actors.” The development of a project like Trift cannot simply be transferred to the other round table projects.

But it is not the only roundtable project that has come under criticism. “The project on the Gornergrat in the canton of Valais is also a major burden on nature,” says Munz. Gorner supplies by far the most electricity of the fifteen projects. Here too, the dispute could continue.

Source:Blick