Keystone
There are no concrete plans yet. But just the idea of using the Rhine Falls as a power plant and turning the tap off at night triggers head shakes in the Zurich cantonal council. And such a project is not possible without the approval of Zurich.
Seven years ago, the people of Schaffhausen actually had a clear stance on the subject of hydropower plants on the Rhine: They clearly rejected the Water Management Act. This prohibited increased use of the Rhine for electricity generation.
Now the Schaffhausen canton parliament wants to tighten the water management law again – without involving the people: In a few weeks the parliament will decide whether an exception should be added to the law for the Rhine Falls.
The entire rest of the Rhine in the Schaffhausen area would still not be used more intensively, but power plant projects would be possible at the Rhine Falls.
For the time being, it is only about the existing Rhine Falls hydropower plant on Neuhauser Boden. There, the output could be increased by 10 percent without the noticeably less water thundering down the Rhine Falls.
However, there are already further ideas in the room. The plans are not yet concrete, but some Schaffhausen politicians are flirting with a significant increase in capacity.
For this purpose, the Rhine Falls should be turned off almost halfway at night, when it is no longer illuminated and tourists are not gazing at it anyway. The water would be diverted to the power plant.
Half belongs to Zurich
In an interpellation, Zurich cantonal councilors wanted to know from Green Building Director Martin Neukom what he thought of the Schaffhausen power plant plans.
In the council debate on Monday, Neukom made a diplomatic statement. There are no specific projects. In addition, the planned amendment to the Water Act is actually “just an adjustment to our law”. “For us, a power plant is not forbidden.”
Depending on the project, Zurich will refuse the concession, the Green Government Council said. “Regardless of which side the power plant is on: Zurich can have a say in the decision-making process.”
Most of the Rhine Falls are marketed by Schaffhausen for tourism purposes. However, half of this wonder of the world belongs to the Canton of Zurich. Accordingly, nothing works without the consent of Zurich.
Several Zurich parliamentarians then expressed themselves less diplomatically than the Green Government Council. With such ideas, he feels like being transported back to the 1960s, said Martin Farner (FDP, Stammheim). The last natural spectacle of water power doesn’t have to be sacrificed. He hopes that the Zurich government will “get involved in Schaffhausen accordingly”.
“Even Nagra doesn’t come up with such ideas”
SP Cantonal Councilor Markus Späth (Feuerthalen) only had to shake his head. “Even Nagra in search of a repository does not come up with such ideas.”
The idea of a power plant with a water intake on the Zurich side and a pressure tunnel under Zurich Castle Laufen is “not exactly a friendly act by little brother Schaffhausen”. And then the construction period during ongoing tourism operations. “I really don’t have the imagination to imagine it,” said Späth.
For the Greens, on the other hand, it is clear that biodiversity has “top priority”. But she didn’t want to join in shaking her head. After all, the business in Schaffhausen is not over yet.
–
