First wind measurement towers planned for winter in the canton of Zurich

These are towers that resemble antennae and reach far into the sky. Their task is to measure wind speed and direction. When asked, the Zurich electricity company EKZ said that the towers will remain in place for a year.

Zürich Wind, the name of the wind power cooperation between EKZ, Stadtwerk Winterthur and Elektrizitätswerk Zürich ewz, will also contact the municipalities of the potential locations. This was announced by the cooperation on Thursday.

The added value that can be created by wind power plants will also be worked out together with the municipalities.

Mostly in the Weinland and around Winterthur

On Tuesday, building director Martin Neukom (Greens) presented the possible locations for wind turbines. Most of the suitable areas are in the north of the canton, eleven are in the Weinland and around Winterthur. Four sites are in the Knonauer Amt and three in the Oberland. There are also Wädenswil on the left bank of Lake Zurich as well as Wasterkingen and Hüntwangen in the lowlands.

In order to speed up the planning of the wind farms, the cantonal government is proposing a new consultation procedure. As with road construction, some steps would be omitted and decisions by the municipalities could be partially overridden.

There is already opposition. The SVP and FDP have criticized the fact that the municipalities are not involved enough. The SVP demanded that wind turbines should only be built with the approval of the municipality. The SP and Greens, on the other hand, welcomed the thrust of the plans.