Reduce the use of fossil fuels to fight against climate change: two texts subject to vote on May 18 are targeting the same objective, but the paths to get there differ. An initiative of the green’liberals advocates an almost general obligation to install solar panels on the buildings of the canton. A counter-project of the Council of State also provides for obligations, but more modest.
“Our text has ambition, it intends to exploit the solar potential as much as possible on the building”, boasts Aurélien Barakat, president of the Vert’liberals. By 2035, the owners will have to equip all “suitable surfaces” with photovoltaic installations: roofs, facades, balconies; Heritage exceptions are planned. It is up to the State to define these surfaces (80% of constructions could be affected). It will also guarantee the borrowings contracted to finance the installation costs.
“Panels only on new or renovated buildings roofs, like now, is insufficient,” sums up Aurélien Barakat. And this, while solar should cover 30% of energy needs by 2030, says the canton. Today, the situation depends too much on the goodwill of large property owners, including the state and the pension funds. ” The leader also recalls that the Genevans voted massively for the climate law, in 2023. With regard to their proposals, the Vert’liberals judge the counter-project “minimalist”.
He is above all “reasoned and less dogmatic”, retort the supporters of the text carried by the Council of State. This would impact approximately 20% of constructions. “More respectful of the built heritage”, it also includes the thermal panels, “not only photovoltaic”, states the vice-president of the real estate chamber and deputy PLR, Diane Barbier-Mueller. The counter-project will also relieve the wallet of certain Genevans, up to tens of thousands of francs, estimates Lionel Dugerdil, boss of the Geneva UDC and winegrower. Industrial services will have to partially finance the connection of their network to large solar facilities, such as those supposed to equip farms.
-Diane Barbier-Mueller also ensures that “according to fire services, the installation of photovoltaic panels on facades can be risky in terms of fire”. At the head of the PLR, Pierre Nicollier concludes: “The counter-project respects the climate plan calendar, while preserving a reasonable living environment.”
Elsewhere in French -speaking Switzerland
The obligation to equip new buildings with solar panels, whatever their size and assignment, has existed since 2019 in the Jura, 2020 in Friborg, 2021 in Neuchâtel and 2025 in Valais. The trend in all Swiss cantons is to extend this requirement to the already built buildings, during renovations. The measure could come into force in 2026 (this is already the case in Geneva and Valais). Vaud, he studies a complete overhaul of his energy law: she could involve the installation of panels on the roofs, but also on the facades of new or renovation buildings.
The Vert’Liberals initiative is supported by the Greens, the PS and the Center, while it is attacked by the right (PLR, UDC, LJS and MCG), which prefers the counter-project. Voters will have to answer a subsidiary question to determine which of these objects to their preference, if they are both accepted. The green’liberals and the Greens are still campaigning for the initiative. On the other hand, the PS leaves the free choice of vote to its sympathizers; The rest of the parties recommend voting for the counter-project.
