Solar offensive after the storm – catastrophe in La Chaux-de-Fonds should be turned into an opportunity – News

The devastating storm on July 24th left severe damage in the city. Western Swiss solar promoters are now coming up with lofty plans.

On July 24th a severe storm hit La Chaux-de-Fonds. It caused extensive damage: numerous trees were snapped and thousands of buildings were damaged – especially their roofs.

Because many roofs now need to be renovated, solar panels could also be installed. At least that’s the plan of solar promoters from French-speaking Switzerland: They think the catastrophe should be seen as an opportunity. The idea was discussed at an event in La Chaux-de-Fonds last week.

“The damage was terrible,” said Laurent Scacchi at the beginning of the discussion. But therein lies an opportunity. The president of the AEE Switzerland association – the umbrella organization for renewable energies and energy efficiency in French-speaking Switzerland – was convinced that La Chaux-de-Fonds can once again demonstrate its pioneering spirit.

Goodwill…

Today’s UNESCO-crowned cityscape also emerged from a catastrophe. A devastating fire destroyed the city in 1794. During construction, chessboard-like street plans were created that are reminiscent of American cities. The aim was to ensure that all the watchmaking studios had enough light. Why not use a disaster for change a second time?

After the event there was definitely goodwill for the project. For example by Rémy Gogniat. He is 75 years old and the owner of a block of flats in the middle of the UNESCO-protected city center. The man in the down gilet and his gray hair combed back wanted to renovate his roof anyway. After the storm damage, the renovation is now underway – and Gogniat wants to install solar panels.

Legend:

Curbed pioneering spirit: The solar offensive after the storm is likely to be slowed down by the monument protection requirements.

Keystone/Lauerent Gillieron

But it’s not that easy. Because the requirements of monument protection are high. Solar panels are only possible on the upper half of the roof, integrated into the roof and not a few centimeters above the tiles. If these rules are followed, Patrick Jobin from the city of La Chaux-de-Fonds also says yes to solar panels.

The strict rules apply to the entire area protected by UNESCO. “A third of all buildings in the city are protected in this way, a total of 2,500 houses,” says Jobin.

…and skepticism

Benoît Dubosson also listened that evening, with some skepticism. Because he represents the Building Culture Section of the Federal Office of Culture – he stands up for UNESCO protection. The Federal Office representative is not fundamentally against solar panels on UNESCO-protected buildings. But actually he would rather have her somewhere else. The yes becomes a yes, but.

There are also problems with the economic viability of the buildings. La Chaux-de-Fonds has lost residents in recent years, many apartments are empty and cheap. Investments are so unattractive. After all, the city will be spending additional money on solar panels starting at the end of the year.

The revolution is postponed

Nevertheless, Patrick Jobin does not see the same pioneering spirit in the city as it did after the fire at the end of the 18th century: “I don’t think that the cityscape will change again after the storm as it did after the fire catastrophe back then.” But: The moment for better insulation and some solar panels has now come.

So there is unlikely to be another revolution in La Chaux-de-Fonds, but rather a change in small steps. Like anywhere else.