A clear yes to large investments in solar, wind, and hydro power. This was the result of a Swiss referendum on Sunday.
Swiss citizens had to take a stance on a proposal for a new law that stipulates that the Alpine region should have "a stable energy system based on renewable energy forms".
Parliament has already said yes, and now the people are also giving their thumbs up. According to preliminary figures from the SRF media company, the yes side received around two-thirds of the votes.
The debate has been intense in some cases, where planned investments in solar and wind energy have been met with concerns that panels and turbines will spoil the world-famous picturesque landscape.
However, Switzerland is in a precarious energy situation. Hydro power accounts for much of the energy, but in the era of climate change, one cannot rely on the dams to produce as much as before. And the country imports most of its electricity, which makes it dependent on neighboring countries.
The new law is expected to make it easier to get through the construction of new solar and wind parks throughout Switzerland. Even further exploitation of rivers for hydro power will be facilitated, although authorities assure that natural areas will remain protected.
