Greens of the canton of Zurich call for areas of interest for wind turbines
The Greens of the canton of Zurich are calling on the government council to include areas of interest for wind turbines in the structure plan in order to exploit the energy potential.
Together with the factions of the climate alliance (SP, GLP, EVP, AL), the Greens instruct the Zurich government council to define areas of preference for wind turbines in the structure plan, so-called areas of interest. On the one hand, this would improve the planning security for wind turbines and, on the other hand, the concerns of nature and landscape protection would be taken into account.
The Greens write that wind energy would play an important role in the transition to CO2-free and renewable energy production. Especially in the winter months, when less solar power can be generated, there can be considerable wind potential in Switzerland: Two thirds of the annual production of wind turbines would fall in the winter half-year.
There is wind potential in the canton of Zurich
Wind energy would therefore be an ideal complement to photovoltaics and hydropower. According to the Greens, it would help to close gaps in electricity production and reduce dependency on other countries.
However, far too little use is made of the wind potential in Switzerland and the canton of Zurich. According to the Greens, a major reason for this is that the very long and uncertain planning for wind turbines would deter energy producers from investing in domestic wind energy
“Wind turbines can also be operated economically in the canton of Zurich, as the 2014 wind potential study shows. Theoretically, there is a wind energy potential of 450 to 1,750 gigawatt hours in the canton of Zurich. This could cover up to 20 percent of Zurich’s energy needs,” the Greens explain.
Way for investors should be relaxed
With the entries in the cantonal structure plan, the proponents want to make it easier for investors to plan and project wind turbines. At the same time, they see the structure plan as the right instrument to meet the demands of landscape and nature conservation (especially bird and bat protection) in connection with wind energy.
The government council is in the process of examining potential wind sites. With this motion, he should be given the framework conditions for this: wind turbines should be built where there is a high wind potential and the natural values are affected as little as possible, the Greens summarize.
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