More than 131,800 signatures filed against new nuclear plants

On Tuesday, the coalition “No alle nuove centrali nucleari” filed more than 131,800 signatures with the Federal Chancellery for a referendum against the construction of new nuclear power plants.

The coalition brings together members of the Socialist Party, the Greens and the Green Liberals, part of the Centre and various civil society organisations. These groups criticise costs running into billions and safety risks. They also point to a new dependence on uranium imports.

The coalition accuses the government and parliament of ignoring the will of the people. Voters, it notes, have already backed renewable energy: in 2017 with the Energy Strategy, in 2023 with the Climate Protection Act and in 2024 with the Electricity Act.

Costs and waste

A new nuclear plant would cost up to 43 billion. These costs could lead to higher taxes and electricity prices.

The disasters at Chernobyl and Fukushima are also cited. In a densely populated country like Switzerland, similar catastrophes would have dramatic consequences.

Radioactive waste would have to be stored for more than a million years. Yet no tested solution exists anywhere in the world, the coalition argues.

The underground repository currently being designed in Switzerland would have no room for further waste from a new plant, the promoters say.

The Greens’ president, Lisa Mazzone, says a return to nuclear power would amount to a “sabotaggio della transizione energetica” (sabotage of the energy transition).

Jacqueline Badran, vice president of the Socialist Party, describes nuclear plants as a “tecnologia ad alto rischio” (high-risk technology). In her view, the technology will leave a “patrimonio tossico per le generazioni future” (a toxic legacy for future generations).

Several questions remain open: who would bear the costs of a new plant, and how heavily would lower incomes be affected?