Switzerland's lower house of parliament has approved by a narrow margin a motion to aid hydropower development in 162 protected landscapes of national importance covering 19% of Swiss territory.A motion adopted September 28 called for a "balanced weighing of interests" with future projects. The new policy could benefit several new and uprating projects. The federal government's Energy Strategy 2050 for the phasing out of nuclear power also calls for a careful weighing of energy versus environmental interests.Meanwhile on 10 October the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) announced that the government has approved a report on ways to facilitate the construction of wind farms in forests (1.2 million hectares) and forest pastures. According to the government no changes would be required in existing laws. The report offers the cantons guidelines for the necessary forest clearances. The government Energy Strategy 2050 sees the wind energy potential as up to 4 TWh by 2050.
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