Switzerland must be able to build new nuclear power plants

Switzerland must be able to build new nuclear power plants

Keystone-SDA

The Swiss government has opened up the possibility of new nuclear power plants in response to a people’s initiative.

On Friday, the government put out for consultation a counter-proposal to the popular initiative ‘Electricity for all at all times (Stop the blackout)’. The initiators want to enshrine in the Swiss constitution that all ‘climate-friendly’ forms of electricity generation are permitted. This would allow the construction of new nuclear power plants.

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The governing Federal Council is opposed to this initiative, it said on Friday. Rather than amending the constitution, it wants to amend the Nuclear Energy Act with its counter-proposal, so that new power plants can once again be approved in Switzerland.

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View of the Leibstadt nuclear power plant at the 2022 comprehensive emergency exercise, on Tuesday, 27th September 2022, in Leibstadt. From 27th to 29th September 2022, federal agencies, cantons, the Leibstadt nuclear power plant (KKL), as well as national and regional German authorities are practicing the management of an accident at the Leibstadt nuclear power plant. The exercise also includes helicopter flights near the nuclear power plant and the deployment of measuring teams.

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Return to nuclear power: problematic or a pragmatic solution?

This content was published on

Apr 11, 2024

On February 16, a popular initiative was launched by centre-right parties in Switzerland challenging the ban on new nuclear power plants.

Read more: Return to nuclear power: problematic or a pragmatic solution?

The aim is to design an energy policy that is open to technology and integrates nuclear power. However, the development of renewable energies remains the priority. Lifting the ban on the construction of new power plants has the advantage of allowing Switzerland to resort to the nuclear option should renewable energies fail to meet its needs.

Adapted from French by DeepL/ac

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