Renewable energies on the rise: Zurich city plans
The city of Zurich has approved a 300 million Swiss franc framework credit to expand renewable energy. Investments are planned in hydropower, alpine photovoltaics, and wind energy, including abroad. This will ensure the competitiveness of the energy supplier ewz.
The voters of the city of Zurich have clearly approved the ewz framework credit with a clear majority of 82.0% and a yes majority in all city districts. This means that the city of Zurich’s energy supplier can continue to expand renewable energies as proposed by the city council. The framework credit of CHF 300 million is intended to finance the expansion of existing hydropower plants and the relicensing of hydropower plants, alpine photovoltaic plants and wind farms, among other things. It should also enable the city to invest in companies that plan, build or operate renewable energy plants.
The funds are also to be used explicitly for investments by the city of Zurich’s energy supplier ewz in the expansion of renewable energies abroad. France, Germany, Norway and Sweden are currently the focus countries of ewz’s involvement abroad.
This is the fourth framework credit for the expansion of renewable energies since 2008 and is intended to enable ewz to remain competitive. The framework credit was approved by the municipal council with a majority of 97 votes to 14. Only the SVP spoke out against it.