Zurich: Zurich wants to set up 120 wind turbines – communities are protesting

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ZürichZurich wants to set up 120 wind turbines – communities protest

By 2050, seven percent of the canton’s energy requirements are to be covered by wind power. The project has met with criticism from the communities affected.

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A visualization shows what the Bachtel-Allmen area could look like with wind turbines.

Screenshot free landscape Zurich

The Bachtel-Allmen area as it looks now.

The Bachtel-Allmen area as it looks now.

Screenshot free landscape Zurich

Wind turbines up to 235 meters high are also planned on the Pfannenstiel.

Wind turbines up to 235 meters high are also planned on the Pfannenstiel.

Screenshot free landscape Zurich

  • In order to promote electricity production from wind power, the canton of Zurich wants to set up 120 wind turbines that are up to 235 meters high. Construction is scheduled to start in 2030.

  • The canton’s new planning includes a total of 46 locations that are suitable for the construction of wind turbines.

  • The canton’s project is causing displeasure among the communities. Not least because the right to have a say in the location determination is to be restricted.

The canton of Zurich wants to promote electricity production from wind power and has to do so wind potential areas evaluated. According to the new plan, the map includes a total of 46 locations on which 120 to 235 meter high wind turbines are to be set up. Construction of the facilities is scheduled to start in 2030. The Freie Landschaft Zürich association speaks of a “major attack on the population, nature and landscape”.

Displeasure is also spreading among the affected communities: “It cannot be that such massive cuts in the landscape and in the community autonomy are allowed,” says the Mayor of Schlatt, Urs Schäfer. He couldn’t understand this “constraint”. He sharply criticizes the fact that the building department wants to further reduce the communal right to have a say. «I can only say: farewell to municipal autonomy, centralization is the future. Unfortunately.”

The 46 wind potential areas of the canton of Zurich are marked on this map.

The 46 wind potential areas of the canton of Zurich are marked on this map.

Canton Zurich

Schäfer is also annoyed that the canton only redefined the landscape protection areas in the municipality of Schlatt at the beginning of the year and entered them in the structure plan. “A few months later, however, this area suddenly becomes a potential area for wind turbines – and without the right to object.”

“We will need more energy than forecast”

Carlo Hächler, President of the municipality of Hittnau, is also not enthusiastic about the canton’s plan. “In my opinion, we will need much more electrical energy than the building department predicted.” He doubts that wind energy will cover seven percent of demand in 2050. “I think that the measures will then only account for three to four percent. I wonder if the rigorous measures are proportionate.”

Hächler considers it “problematic” that the building department wants to give the municipalities less say in the location determination in the future: “The objection is ultimately a democratic right.”

Nothing speaks against clarifications

Christoph Hiller, Mayor of Miles, does not want to allow himself a final verdict. “I have nothing against the fact that Switzerland wants to be less dependent on electricity imports from abroad.” However, there is still a need for clarification on various points – for example, whether the Pfannenstiel is a suitable location and what the efficiency of such a system is. “Likewise, weighing up goods with nature and landscape protection and the democratic and legal framework will be an issue.”

Hiller currently sees no reason to get excited because: “For the time being it’s nothing more than an idea.” He thinks it is wrong to take an unequivocal stand against the planned measures before the investigations have been carried out. “After all, we all consume electricity.”

topic polarized

The canton’s project sparked a controversial discussion among readers: “It looks awful, I don’t want to see any!”, a user is bothered by the appearance of the wind turbines. Another person disagrees: «I live in the country, in the immediate vicinity of wind turbines. They don’t bother me or the other residents.” Other readers, on the other hand, question whether the canton of Zurich is even suitable for wind energy production.

Among the comments, however, there are also some who support electricity production using wind turbines: “This is the future and cannot be prevented. Which is also good. People always whine when they have trouble understanding. Good and keep it up.” Another user supports the withdrawal of the right to appeal: “Remove the right to appeal and move forward. We don’t have time to argue for years.”

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