Wind Power News: Switzerland
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Des Jurassiens viennent à Genève dire leur opposition aux éoliennes des SIG
GENEVE – Les riverains d’un des deux derniers projets éoliens des Services Industriels de Genève se disent déterminés à l’empêcher. «Nous vous offrons cinq éoliennes, vous pouvez les mettre dans la rade de Genève! C’est le cadeau de Noël des Francs-Montagnards aux Genevois.» Jean-Marc Baume brandit un photomontage montrant des éoliennes implantées à côté du Jet d’eau, qu’elles égalent voire dépassent en hauteur, toutes proportions gardées. Avec d’autres membres du comité Librevent, ce Jurassien est venu dire son opposition aux . . . Complete story »
Dangerous turbines: Radar could protect birds from deadly wind farms
Each year, millions of migrating birds fly over Switzerland – but for some, the journey ends in the blades of a wind turbine. A Swiss company has made special radar which could help prevent collisions and become a key element in wind farms. “It manages to pick out a swarm of mosquitos from a distance of five metres.” Urs Seiffert, manager of the Swiss BirdScan radar project, has no doubt about the radar’s potential. But he is not interested in . . . Complete story »
Geneva utility CEO quits amid wind power scandal
The chief executive of Geneva’s public utility resigned after six years in the position on Thursday amid a scandal over tens of millions of francs invested in wind energy without producing any electricity. At a hastily organized press conference, André Hurter, CEO of the Services industriels de Genève (SIG), announced that he was stepping down following “differences” with the utility’s chairman, Alain Peyrot. Peyrot held Hurter responsible for serious “dysfunctions” in the utility’s wind energy business, the Tribune de Genève . . . Complete story »
Vaud, Neuchatel agree on wind park
The cantons of Vaud and Neuchatel have agreed to compromise on a planned wind park near the so-called “Swiss Grand Canyon.” In a joint statement, the cantons said Vaud agreed to do away with 11 of the planned 27 wind turbines near Provence, and further turbines wouldn’t be built on the Jura near Val-de-Travers in the canton of Neuchatel. Neuchatel has agreed to let Vaud install turbines three kilometers from the Creux de Van ridge instead of its original demand . . . Complete story »
Thurgau frets over German wind energy plans
The canton of Thurgau has concerns over a plan for German wind turbines on Lake Constance. In a statement today the cantonal government asked a regional lake association to carefully decide where future wind energy sites can be while considering possible conflict zones. Currently two sites on the German side of the lake have been named for development, one near Überlingen in the northwest, and near Immenstaad near the midway point of the lake. Thurgau said these wind sites could . . . Complete story »
Les éoliennes vaudoises déplaisent à Neuchâtel
[Wind turbine plans in Vaud upset Neuchâtel – The Vaud wind energy plan presented 2 weeks ago by Jacqueline de Quattro includes three projects sited a short distance from the canton of Neuchâtel. The largest is near the iconic site of Creux-du-Van, where Neuchâtel bans wind turbines] La planification éolienne cantonale, présentée il y a quinze jours par Jacqueline de Quattro, a retenu trois projets éoliens situés à quelques encablures du canton de Neuchâtel. C’est peu dire que ces parcs éoliens sont . . . Complete story »
Strom oder Natur?
Das Teersträßchen endet, nur ein Kiesweg führt weiter hinauf: ins Hochtal der Alp Nova, oberhalb von Lumbrein im bündnerischen Lugnez. Auf den grünen Matten stehen eine Alphütte und Ställe in der mit Nebelschwaden verhangenen Landschaft. 2.100 Meter über dem Meer. Wir steigen aus dem Auto. Es weht ein laues Lüftchen. Hier, in einer Talmulde, soll ab 2012 der größte Schweizer Windpark entstehen. Vierzig bis sechzig Windräder, die jährlich 150 bis 250 Millionen Kilowattstunden (kWh) Strom erzeugen – mehr als zehnmal . . . Complete story »
Turbine protestors have the wind in their sails
Wind turbines are springing up on the hills of the Jura in western Switzerland, but local opposition to them is getting more and more organised. At the beginning of October, the people of Bourrignon, on the heights above the Jura cantonal capital of Delémont, voted against a plan to erect 14 turbines near their village. Several communes in the Franches-Montagnes region of the Jura are to vote shortly on initiatives calling for either a total ban, or a moratorium, on . . . Complete story »
Massive wind park planned in Graubünden
A Valais-based company wants to build the country’s biggest wind-power park in the canton of Graubünden. Altaventa plans to team with Zurich energy company Ewz to put at least 40 wind-powered generators at an elevation of 2,400 meters above sea level, west of Chur. The proposed investment is about 200 million-francs for a project that the companies claim could provide enough electricity for all homes in the canton. Zurich’s government still needs to sign on, before Ewz can participate. If . . . Complete story »
How green energy could inherit problems
The Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan has renewed interest in green energy – but every energy source has a downside. Many people think wind turbines are a blot on the landscape – and those who live close by complain of the noise they make. And while solar panels are fine on new buildings, no one would think of putting them on a cathedral. The Swiss Heritage Society released a position paper last Thursday on the introduction of wind power, entitled: . . . Complete story »
