National Council wants to suspend rules for residual water in favor of energy objectives

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The large chamber confronted the environmental organizations on Monday when it came to the first material decisions on the energy mantle decree. By 95 votes to 94, with 1 abstention, she passed a motion from the committee’s minority.

Accordingly, residual water rules will be suspended when new hydropower plants are licensed until ambitious expansion targets are met. “The amount of residual water will not be less than now, but will only increase later,” explains Nicolo Paganini (middle/SG). The targets set cannot be achieved with the applicable residual water regulations. The Council of States has yet to decide on this.

For leftists and environmental activists, the decision of the National Council has crossed a first red line. Nadine Masshardt (SP/BE) spoke of an “unnecessary attack on water protection and biodiversity”. It was confirmed several times that there was sufficient residual water at the urn. A suspension “would be a major breach of trust”.

According to Christophe Clivaz (Greens/US), the National Council risks a referendum of environmental activists with this “unacceptable decision”. Martin Bäume (GLP/ZH) pointed out that this would contradict the compromise the Commission has worked out with environmental and fisheries associations.

Minister of Energy Albert Rösti also warned in vain against an attack on residual water volumes. The Bundesrat had received a postulate on this. He will answer it as soon as possible.

The councils are unanimous in embedding new binding target values ​​in the Energy Act and no longer just guide values ​​for the years 2035 and 2050. The target values ​​determine the desired expansion of hydropower and other renewable energy sources, as well as the reduction of energy and electricity consumption per capita of the population.

The target values ​​have been significantly increased compared to the original Bundesrat proposal. These are – excluding hydropower – 35 terawatt hours in 2035 and 45 terawatt hours in 2050.

Every five years, the Federal Council sets interim targets, both globally and for individual technologies. He takes timely measures to achieve goals. The target values ​​for the production of electricity from hydropower are 37.9 terawatt hours in 2035 and 39.2 terawatt hours in 2050.

In accordance with the parliamentary decision, the Bundesrat sets intermediate targets for general and individual technologies every five years. He takes timely measures to achieve goals.

Unlike the Council of States, the National Council voted against a fixed volume of imports when it came to an import directive. According to his decision, the net import of electricity in the winter months (October 1 to March 31) may not exceed the target value of twenty percent of the electricity final consumption averaged over three years. The Council of States was in favor of a fixed benchmark of five terawatt hours. Both values ​​would not be binding.

Finally, Parliament has set new consumption targets. The average energy consumption per person per year must be reduced by 43 percent in 2035 and by 53 percent in 2050 compared to the level in 2000. The average electricity consumption per person per year must be reduced by 13 percent in 2035 and by 5 percent in 2050 compared to the level of 2000.

Federal Councilor Rösti spoke of “correct and important goals” that are very ambitious. The National Council continued its deliberations on the Energy Mantle Decree on Monday evening. Further decisions will be made on Tuesday and Wednesday.

(SDA)

Source:Blick