These sixteen hydropower projects are to be realized quickly
Published: Sunday, Jun 9th 2024, 17:00
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The sixteen hydropower projects that Parliament would like to see realized quickly are projects in the cantons of Valais, Bern, Graubünden, Ticino and Uri. By far the most projects are in Valais, namely eight.
There, the existing reservoir in Chummibort above Grengiols is to be expanded. Above Zermatt, there are plans to build a new reservoir in the Gorner area, and in the municipality of Anniviers, the dam wall of Lake Moiry is to be raised.
The same is planned for Lake Griessee in the municipality of Obergoms, as well as the construction of a new equalizing reservoir. In the municipalities of Salvan and Finhaut, the dam wall of Lac d'Emosson is to be raised and that of Lac des Toules near Bourg-St-Pierre. The same applies to the dam on Lake Mattmark near Saas Almagell.
In the municipality of Naters, the water from a lake created by receding glaciers is also to be used to generate electricity in an underground power station.
In the canton of Bern, the capacity of Lake Grimsel is to be increased by raising the two dam walls of this lake. The Oberaarsee near this lake is also to be given a higher wall. In addition, a new reservoir is to be created in the Trift area, where a glacier has retreated.
In the canton of Graubünden, the Curnera-Nalps and Lai de Marmorera projects are to benefit from the accelerated procedure in accordance with the energy management decree. In both cases, this involves the raising of dam walls. Higher dams are also planned on the Göscheneralp in the canton of Uri and at Lago del Sambuco in Ticino.
Two municipalities say no
At the end of 2021, hydropower stakeholders agreed on a list of 15 hydropower projects to be promoted at roundtable discussions hosted by former Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga.
Parliament added the Chlus hydropower project in the Prättigau region of Graubünden to the list as the 16th project, following a motion by National Councillor Magdalena Martullo-Blocher (SVP/GR). She justified the motion by stating that it was a project of national importance.
Two of the municipalities affected rejected the energy decree. In Bourg-St-Pierre (VS), the "no" camp prevailed by just one vote. Küblis in Prättigau also narrowly voted no to the Electricity Act.
©Keystone/SDA
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