The SVP has held its referendum against the new climate target law on dry land and will submit it to the Federal Chancellery on 19 January. In the background, however, there is still a second referendum on energy policy – the one against the solar offensive in the Energy Act, which parliament has pushed through at breakneck speed. This also paves the way for large solar power plants in the Alps.
The referendum against the “urgent measures for the short-term provision of a safe power supply in winter”, as the proposal is officially called, was taken by non-partisan Basel bidder Toni Grüter (58) – a brother of the Lucerne SVP National Councilor Franz Gruter (59).
Only 100 signatures
But while voters are expected to decide at the polls on June 18 on the SVP referendum and thus the net zero climate target, they have no say on the alpine solar offensive. The deadline for the referendum is January 19. And Grüter only collected “about 100” signatures, he explains when asked. So the referendum failed.
There are reasons why there weren’t more signatures. Grüter simply lacked the support of larger organizations or parties. “Everyone thought the referendum was hopeless or even counterproductive,” he says. That’s why he actually stopped collecting signatures in November. “I didn’t want to act against the local population.”
The fact that Grüter launched the referendum at all also has to do with the fact that he knows the Saflisch valley. In other words, the place where an alpine solar power plant could be built with the large-scale Grengiols Solar project – at least according to the plans of the hotelier and former SP chairman Peter Bodenmann (70).
“Attack on the Alps”
“Large-scale solar systems in the Alps not only destroy a lot, they also do not solve the problem of an energy shortage, at least not in the short term,” says Grüter. “The installation of a gas-fired power plant in Birr speaks a clear language.” He also refers to a study by the Zürcher Kantonalbank, according to which the solar potential is higher in the cities than in the mountains.
Grüter complains that Switzerland has been sleeping for decades due to the expansion of alternative energy sources. And: “There is not really any discussion about solar energy in Switzerland.”
Grüter also resents the fact that the emergency law was ultimately only subject to an optional instead of a mandatory referendum. “This means putting aside democratic practices without solving the problem.” It is therefore clear to him: «The solar offensive is an attack on the Alps and on democracy. But I care about both.”
Regulations scheduled for March
The failure of the referendum clears the way for the Energy Act, which entered into force on 1 October 2022. In particular also for large alpine solar systems, which can also be implemented without planning requirements under certain conditions.
This should make it possible to quickly and easily add larger production volumes, mainly for the winter. The federal government’s stated goal is for mountain solar systems to produce 2,000 gigawatt-hours by the end of 2025. By comparison, Switzerland currently consumes 58,000 gigawatt hours of electricity per year.
The Federal Council is currently preparing the regulations to implement the law, which is expected to come into force on March 1, 2023.