The path for the solar offensive is clear. The referendum against the “urgent measures for the short-term provision of a safe winter power supply”, as the bill is officially called, has clearly failed. Referendum leader Toni Grüter (58) collected only “about 100” signatures as a lone fighter. The deadline for the referendum officially expires on January 19.
This means that nothing stands in the way of new large-scale alpine solar systems, which the hotelier and former SP chairman Peter Bodenmann (70) is campaigning for. But now Vera Weber, the president of the Fondation Franz Weber, has announced opposition to the planned solar parks in the Alps.
“completely absurd”
Instead of destroying the cultural heritage, energy must first be saved and the existing buildings covered with photovoltaic systems, she says in an interview with “Le Matin Dimanche”.
In it she also denounces the creation of an emergency law that is in conflict with the laws on spatial planning and nature protection. “It is completely absurd to want to destroy nature for the sake of supposedly saving, although there are many other solutions,” says Weber.
The impact of these parks in the middle of nature would be significant: “It won’t be enough to put a few signs on pastures, but bases and infrastructure need to be built,” she said.
The authorities are apparently not aware of the resistance to the plans for alpine solar parks. “Many environmental groups are outraged by the way this is being done,” Weber said.
In Grengiol’s US alone, where a test solar system was installed at an altitude of 2,500 meters in late November to collect data for a larger construction of photovoltaic systems, a group of opponents had formed. Weber warns that 600 people have already joined.
Regulations scheduled for March
Under certain conditions, the new energy law also allows large-scale solar installations to be installed in the Alps without a planning obligation.
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 take effect on March 1. (SDA/rus)