National Council committee backs acceleration decree
Published: Thursday, Nov 9th 2023, 19:10
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Solar power plants, wind farms and hydropower plants of national interest should be able to be planned and approved more quickly. The responsible committee of the National Council supports the so-called acceleration decree.
The National Council's Committee for the Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy (Urek-N) has approved the necessary amendments to the Energy Act by 18 votes to 0 with 7 abstentions, as reported by the parliamentary services on Thursday. The co-determination rights of the municipalities where solar plants, wind farms and hydroelectric power plants are located are controversial.
By a narrow majority, the Urek-N proposes that it be expressly written into the law that the cantons can make the consent of the siting municipalities a prerequisite for the approval of an installation under the fast-track procedure. The committee put forward the proposal by 13 votes to 10, with two abstentions.
Various minorities are calling for even more extensive co-determination rights for local communities. According to the press release, these should go as far as a mandatory referendum.
The Federal Council wants a concentrated planning approval procedure for solar and wind energy. The siting canton alone should approve the construction of plants as well as extensions and renovations and also issue the permits that are currently issued by the municipality. The municipalities should be involved in the process at an early stage.
©Keystone/SDA
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