Here’s what you need to know about the new electricity law: Will new nuclear power plants be built if the vote is ‘yes’?

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Energy Minister Albert Rösti (56) is under pressure. “We need more electricity – a lot more electricity!” he started the voting campaign for the media in Bern. Electricity consumption will increase enormously in the coming years. And the supply situation is still fragile, he warned.

He made it clear, especially to his own party: “An independent Switzerland also includes a safe electricity supply. This strengthens the sovereignty of our country.” He will also campaign for a yes vote at the SVP delegate meeting on Saturday, even though the party leadership wants to steer the base towards a no vote.

Rösti is not impressed by the resistance led by SVP entrepreneur Magdalena Martullo-Blocher (54). “I will represent the law with conviction,” he announces. After all, a lot of personal passion went into it, since as a national councilor he helped shape the law.

Now the SVP Federal Council absolutely wants to win. Blick answers the most important questions about the new electricity law.

More hydroelectric power stations, more solar panels and wind turbines: the new law aims to create more renewable energy. In return, funding will be disbursed for longer and approvals will be made easier.

The environmentalists around Vera Weber say the law weakens the landscape and nature conservation. “It is absurd to sacrifice nature on the altar of climate.”

That’s why they called for a referendum. The new law could allow forests to be cleared to build wind turbines. They further criticize that large solar parks would also be possible in protected landscapes and that the right to complain would be limited.

The law contains a whole package of measures. In addition to new targets on how much renewable energy to expand, funding will take longer to be disbursed and new ones will be added. An overview of the most important measures:

• Higher meaning: Solar, hydroelectric and wind power plants can be considered of national interest if they meet certain conditions. They will then benefit if a complaint is filed: the judge will place the interests of the electricity supply above, for example, nature conservation and will be more inclined to dismiss the lawsuit.
• More hydropower: Sixteen hydropower projects benefit from easier approvals and should therefore be able to be built faster. In this way, more electricity must be produced and stored. Dams can be built, such as in Trift in the canton of Bern, and a new reservoir can be built, such as the Corner project in Zermatt USA. These projects must be built as a priority.
• Solar Commitment: In the future, solar panels will have to be installed on large newly built roofs and facades measuring over 300 square meters.
• Winter reserve: To have enough electricity in winter, large hydroelectric power stations must hold back water that can be called up in an emergency. There will be tenders for other storage companies that will receive money for this.
• Protected areas: Even if more power plants have to be built, they will remain prohibited in biotopes of national importance and water and migratory bird reserves. But now, for example, wind turbines can also be built in the forest. Wind and solar parks are also possible in protected landscapes.

No. The law concerns sustainable energy. Whether new nuclear power plants should be built again will quickly become a question after the vote: after the blackout initiative is submitted, Rösti will soon decide whether there will be a counter-proposal.

If you say yes, many things can go faster, but there is no guarantee. Objections are still possible that could delay or prevent construction. For example at the Trift hydroelectric power station.

Switzerland wants to become climate neutral in the long term, i.e. emit less CO₂. This could work, for example, if electric cars were racing around Switzerland instead of diesel or petrol cars. However, they need electricity.

In addition, the population is increasing, which means that more electricity is needed overall. And the population wants to close nuclear power stations in the long term. The missing electricity must therefore be replaced.

There are currently many different templates related to the expansion of renewable energy sources. The Solar Express, which is already in force, should ensure that there are more solar energy systems in the Alps.

At the same time, the House of Representatives is debating the so-called acceleration decree. This goes in a similar direction and is intended to speed up the processes for solar and wind turbines and the electricity grid.

Parliament also passed the CO₂ law last week. This also includes various elements that have to do with the energy supply.

To ensure that more is built, the existing financing that already applies will be expanded. As before, they are financed from the network allowance. This is 2.3 cents per kilowatt hour consumed.

The new system of a “sliding market premium” will also be financed with this. The Federal Office of Energy writes that there would be no new costs for consumers.

If the vote is no, existing laws remain in effect. However, individual financing measures may expire. Proponents fear that Switzerland will not be able to meet the increasing demand for electricity with renewable energy sources. Emergency measures would also be necessary for the winter.

Source:Blick