Switzerland: New Energy Law Would Grow Renewables at Expense of Nuclear

Swiss energy law aims to boost renewables, ban new nuclear plants (Reuters)

Switzerland votes on Sunday on a new energy law, titled "Energy Strategy 2050," that includes billions of Swiss francs in subsidies to support new renewable supplies and energy efficiency, while banning new nuclear power plants.

Highlights of the law are below:

• Aims to increase solar, wind, biomass and geothermal energy output from 2,831 gigawatt hours (GWh) now, or just 4.3 percent of Swiss generation, to 11,400 GWh by 2035.
• Bans new nuclear power plants ahead of the eventual phase out of Switzerland's five plants, with the first closing in 2019.
• Hikes charges on electricity users to raise 480 million Swiss francs a year to subsidise energy production from solar, wind, biomass, geothermal and water power.
• Elevates renewables to "national interest" status, helping them overcome legal challenges over a project's environmental or aesthetic impact.

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