Plans mooted to boost large-scale wind and hydroelectric power plants

Aerial view of windmills and solar panels — Several projects to build windmill parks and to raise dams of artificial lakes in the Alps have been blocked by a flood of appeals in court. © Keystone/Valentin Flauraud

The Swiss government wants to speed up legal procedures to boost the construction of large-scale hydroelectric and wind energy installations.

swissinfo.ch/urs

Energy Minister Simonetta Sommaruga said the plans were part of efforts underway in parliament to improve energy supplies.

The proposalsExternal link presented on Thursday aim to streamline the procedure for the construction of dams and wind turbines by reducing the number of legal appeals possible, but without undermining environmental protection.

The government is also mooting tax breaks for the installation of solar panels at new buildings and simplified administrative applications.

Sommaruga said it was crucial to ensure energy supplies and boost large-scale expansion projects.

In some cases, projects have been blocked in courts for 20 years, she said. Companies are discouraged by such delays and invest in projects abroad.

Sommaruga said the government is preparing several other projects to prevent an energy crunch, notably obliging operators of hydroelectric power plants to keep enough reserve capacities.