In the express train method: Grisons want to push through the Chlus hydroelectric power station

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FDP Council of States Martin Schmid (54) is in power – and is on the verge of great success. The environmental committee of the Council of States recently announced that the river power plant Chlus in Graubünden should also be given priority.

State Council Schmid is largely responsible for the decision. Using it has a musty aftertaste. Until two weeks ago, Schmid was a member of the board of directors of Repower AG. The company plans the Chlus hydroelectric power plant in the Prättigau and in the Bündner Rheintal. The “NZZ am Sonntag” also reports on this.

“The Chlus hydroelectric power station is an extremely good project,” Schmid told “Südostschweiz”. Chlus provides an additional production of approximately 240 gigawatt hours per year, is ecological and is supported by the communities. “Still, we’re not getting anywhere.”

Long on the Board of Directors

But is Schmid pursuing his own interests in the committee? After all, he himself submitted the application to write the project into law. He told the “NZZ am Sonntag” that he had announced his mandate and that he was no longer on the board. “Graubünden should also make its contribution to a sustainable, safe power supply,” Schmid answers a corresponding question in “Southeast Switzerland”. Schmid could not be reached by Blick.

He does not think he should have left the committee instead of making proposals. “Unfortunately I am not a shareholder.” The Federal Council even mentioned the Chlus project by name in its message on the expansion of renewables. “From Chlus, the municipalities and the canton benefit from the water tariffs, the tax revenue and also the jobs secured at Repower, but also Switzerland with extra electricity.”

«One cannot arbitrarily write a project into law»

The Green State Council member Lisa Mazzone (35) disrupts the procedure. That is why she supports a minority motion. “You can’t arbitrarily write a project into law.” She also finds the Commission’s approach inappropriate. The deal is already in its final stages – it’s just a matter of clearing up the differences with the National Council. “Now a compromise is being reopened here,” says Mazzone. “It is not possible to make a quick decision on a single project without any information.”

However, their resistance is not directed at the hydroelectric power plant itself. “Chlus seems like an interesting project that can be realized independently of this law,” says Mazzone. “Chlus should take advantage of the Federal Council’s proposal to speed up the process.”

Round table for more winter power

The inhabitants of Graubünden have long been fighting for “their” hydroelectric power plant. At a round table on hydropower, held in 2020 by former Federal Councilor Simonetta Sommaruga (63) and the power plant industry, agreement was reached on 15 projects to be built with top priority. Chlus was not there. The production volume is too low and less winter electricity is produced than in other projects.

Everyone on the list gets an expedited process. It is also considered to be in the national interest, which has advantages if there are objections. If Schmid has his way, Chlus should be treated in the same way as the projects approved at the roundtable.

SP State Councilor Roberto Zanetti (68) also sat at the hydropower round table for the fishing association. He abstained from voting on Schmid’s proposal, nor did he support the minority motion. “I haven’t made my final decision yet. Somehow the project doesn’t fit into the Round Table concept as more electricity is being produced, but unfortunately no additional winter power. The inclusion of the project in the list of Round Table projects was a bit haphazard and random. I need more information to make a final decision.”

Even Martullo-Blocher tried it

SP alderman Ursula Schneider Schüttel (62) also sat at the round table as Pro-Natura chairman. She does not believe that the 15 other projects are now in jeopardy. Still, she is against the project. “The hydropower is used for 95 percent. You now have to use the resources for meaningful projects, such as solar energy.”

It is not the first time that a Bündner power play has been held for the Chlus hydroelectric power station. A few days before the debate, Magdalena Martullo-Blocher (53) already tried to push through the hydroelectric power station with an individual application in the National Council. She narrowly failed the council. It is quite possible that the great chamber will have to decide again.

Source:Blick