According to the SRG trend calculation, the Electricity Act will be adopted
Published: Sunday, Jun 9th 2024, 12:20
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Switzerland is given rules to generate more domestic energy from solar and wind power. The planning of 16 hydropower plants will also be simplified. According to the trend calculation carried out by gfs.bern on behalf of SRG, voters approved the Electricity Act.
The approval of the energy package decree - often referred to as the Electricity Act - comes as no surprise. In the most recent polls commissioned by SRG and Tamedia/20 Minuten, 73% and 64% respectively were expected to vote in favor. The bill is due to come into force at the beginning of 2025.
More domestic electricity
The Federal Council, parliament, the major parties and important environmental associations have now prevailed. The Fondation Franz Weber had fought the bill with a referendum, together with an alliance led by Pierre-Alain Bruchez from Neuchâtel and the Swiss Free Landscape Association. The SVP base was also against it.
The aim of the energy decree is to generate more domestic electricity, secure the electricity supply in winter and become less dependent on foreign countries. It specifies minimum production volumes for electricity from renewable sources and that the net import of electricity in winter should not exceed five terawatt hours.
The bill also aims to reduce per capita energy and electricity consumption and contains provisions for a hydropower reserve. Operators of hydropower plants above a certain size must ensure this and are compensated for it.
The bill regulates the planning of large solar energy and wind power plants. In suitable areas, which the cantons must designate in the structure plans with regard to nature and landscape conservation as well as agriculture, energy generation should generally have priority. However, the population retains the right to have a say.
On roofs and facades
The construction of small solar installations on roofs and façades should also be promoted with the Electricity Act. This is because this is where the greatest potential for expanding solar power production is seen.
Hydropower is also included: For 16 new and expanded storage hydropower plants in the mountains listed in the bill. For them, there are planning simplifications and fewer opportunities to have a say compared to today.
The opponents argued that the expansion of renewable energies and thus the energy transition would be at the expense of nature and the landscape. The "no" camp also argued that democratic co-determination rights could be lost.
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