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Fishermen and energy politicians are arguing about the residual water from hydroelectric power plants. The Council of States must now decide.
The fishermen are disappointed. By politicians who have been wanting to relax the residual water regulations for hydroelectric power plants for months.
“We had the feeling that was done,” says Radi Hofstetter, President of the Graubünden Fishing Association. “We didn’t expect this attack by the power plant lobby,” he says to the “Rundschau”.
“That’s a catastrophe”
David Bittner, Managing Director of the Swiss Fisheries Association, goes even further: “It’s a disaster, a red line was crossed.”
The fishing associations have been fighting for better water protection and more residual water for years (see box). “The fish are doing badly,” says Bittner. “Three-quarters of native fish are extinct, critically endangered, or endangered.”
National Council voted to relax
In March, the National Council voted by one vote to suspend the residual water regulations. This was during the debate on the Electricity Decree, which stipulates how Switzerland should achieve its energy targets.
In concrete terms, the residual water increases are to be eliminated by at least 2035 when concessions are renewed.
In the summer session, the topic will now be discussed in the Council of States from Thursday. The Graubünden FDP member of the Council of States, Martin Schmid, is campaigning for a softening of the residual water regulations.
“Mountain areas have always stood up for hydropower”
“You shouldn’t damage domestic hydropower if the Federal Council has a gas and oil power plant built or you import electricity from coal,” says Schmid.
Schmid himself sits on the board of directors of two Graubünden electricity producers. Above all, he is committed to the interests of the canton: “Mountain areas have always stood up for hydropower.”
Schmid and his allies not only put the residual water regulations up to 2035 up for discussion. They calculate up to 2050 or even further, when the large number of new concessions is pending. “Once we have a surplus of electricity, the situation is different,” he says.
«No more clean electricity»
There is support for the fishermen from the WWF. Water protection expert Christopher Bonzi criticizes that a lot of damage is being done to nature, but little electricity is being generated.
According to federal figures, the measure will generate 200 gigawatt hours of electricity annually by 2035.
“That’s how much photovoltaics adds in two months,” Bonzi calculates. “If you operate hydropower under such poor environmental conditions, then that’s no longer clean electricity either.”
Axpo is keeping a low profile
Axpo is the largest producer of hydropower in Switzerland. The group is reluctant to comment on the struggle for the remaining water. “What the general conditions look like when there is residual water is basically a task for politicians,” says Axpo media spokesman Noel Graber.
As to whether Axpo could benefit from the easing, Graber says: “For us, it is particularly important that – when things get that far – we look at each power plant: what are the requirements for environmental and nature conservation, where is the benefit for the electricity production. And then find a compromise.”