Energy transition: Replacement of oil and gas heating: Cantonal council wants to move forward

The revision of the cantonal energy law is intended to promote the energy transition. The replacement of oil and gas heating systems is controversial. The climate alliance, which dominates the Cantonal Council, is putting pressure on it, while the SVP and FDP oppose it. In the end, the people should decide.

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There was no shortage of big words: “The climate crisis is the greatest challenge that humanity has,” said Martin Neukom, building director of the canton of Zurich, towards the end of the cantonal council debate on Monday. Actions instead of words are required. “Now you have the opportunity to implement it,” the government council of the Greens continued.

The opportunity arises with the revision of the cantonal energy law. The main point of contention is the replacement of oil and natural gas heating with renewable energy sources, which the government council and the center-left climate alliance are striving for. Neukom summarized the essence of the law as follows:

“Homeowners have to switch to renewable energy when replacing heating, if it is economically viable.”

Economically acceptable means that the costs of the new, more environmentally friendly heating system exceed those of a conventional heating system powered by fossil fuels by a maximum of five percent over its entire life cycle. If it gets more expensive, a hardship regulation can come into force; then the energy transition in the boiler room could be postponed to the next change of home owner.

In the case of new buildings, the energy requirements for heating, hot water, ventilation and air conditioning must be met without fossil fuels in accordance with the planned change in the law. And: According to the bill, new houses have to cover part of their energy requirements themselves, for example with solar energy.

Amrein was left alone with his application for rejection

The cantonal council agrees that adjustments to the cantonal energy law are needed to help implement the federal energy strategy. The CO₂– Reduce emissions to zero by 2050. Several speakers pointed out that around 40 percent of CO₂Emissions in the canton can be attributed to building heating.

A rejection request from Hans-Peter Amrein (Küsnacht) clearly failed: Except for Amrein himself, who has been politicizing non-attached in the cantonal council since he fell out with the SVP, no one voted for rejection.

SVP relies on referendum

But although the preliminary advisory commission has already built in a hardship clause, the planned amendment to the law of the council goes too far. Several SVP spokesmen as well as the cantonal homeowners association announced the referendum should the cantonal council pass the regulation on the replacement of fossil heating systems.

Christian Lucek (SVP, Dänikon) said that the innovation is unsustainable for many older homeowners, and: “We rely on voluntariness and personal responsibility.” After all, the share of fossil fuels has declined by 30 percent since 1990, even without legal requirements.

Markus Bärtschiger (SP, Schlieren) countered: Actually, the switch to renewable energy sources should progress even faster than the change in the law aimed at. But the now built-in hardship clause is important in order to be able to win at the ballot box.

Profit for the Swiss industry

Franziska Barmettler (GLP, Zurich) stated that the goal is to have buildings that are heated with renewable energy and generate their own energy. “This is also a gain for Swiss industry, because it keeps more added value in Switzerland,” added her party colleague Thomas Wirth (Hombrechtikon).

The CVP also wants to join in: “Burning oil is a technology of yesterday,” said its spokesman Konrad Langhart (Stammheim). The former SVP cantonal party president switched to the CVP not least because of differences in terms of ecology.

Climate Alliance has a majority in parliament

In the cantonal council, the legislative changes sought by Neukom with the votes of the climate alliance, which ranges from the SP to the Greens, the GLP and the EPP to the CVP, should receive a clear majority when the decisive round takes place next Monday.

In addition to the SVP, there were also dissenting votes from the FDP: “Too little technological freedom,” complained Barbara Franzen. The liberal mind instead relies on a CO₂-Write lowering path in the law.

The AL was also heard critically: The decisive factor in the looming voting battle will be the question of what the energy transition will cost the tenants in terms of heating.

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