Energy Environmental organizations raise objection to Grengiols-Solar
Four environmental organizations are objecting to the planned alpine solar park near Grengiols in the Saflischtal valley in Upper Valais. They criticize an "inadequate environmental impact assessment and planning that does not comply with the law".
04.07.2024, 13:07
SDA
Pro Natura, Mountain Wilderness, the Swiss Foundation for Landscape Conservation (SLS) and the WWF announced on Thursday that they would lodge an objection to the alpine solar plant.
In a press release, the organization writes that the WWF has identified serious shortcomings in the site investigation for Grengiols-Solar. The clarifications regarding the expected damage to flora and fauna were inadequate.
Pro Natura, Mountain Wilderness and SLS complained that the environmental impact assessment for this project in an unspoiled area in the middle of the Binntal Landscape Park had not been carried out to the end.
In the canton of Valais, there is currently no overarching overall planning of suitable sites for large-scale photovoltaic plants, as required by the Electricity Act. This lack leads to the planning of plants in untouched nature without alternative locations having been examined.
The organizations also argue that with the adoption of the Electricity Act on 9 June, it is clear that the expansion of renewable energy must take place predominantly on built-up areas. Ground-mounted solar plants could at best supplement this expansion, but would have to be planned and implemented carefully.
Grengiols-Solar is to produce 150 gigawatt hours of renewable electricity per year on an area of 0.8 square kilometers at an altitude of around 2,500 meters.
