goldcoast community goes co2 free. really?

the super rich municipality of herrliberg with 5'600 citizens, 3'400 cars, 42% vote for right wing conservatives and residence of multi-billionaire and member of the bundesrat, chrigel blocher is beautifully located at sunny side of the lake zurich. this sunny side is also called "goldcoast", a euphemism for its massive accumulation of bigwigs. the tax heaven is not too far located from the city of zurich to enjoy the benefits of an urban center, but enough far in order to not have to share the burden of an urban center.

recently, the municipality announced that it will power its local grid with 100% carbon dioxide-free produced electricity. this electricity will then be provided by the cantonal monopoly provider (ewz) through the local utility which, for lack of competition, still is not allowed to get its juice from somewhere else.

herrli.naturpower, as the product has been named, is certified as naturemade basic. supposedly, this quality label should guarantee that the electricity has been produced only through renewables sources and has a neutral carbon dioxide balance. additionally, 5% of all electricity has to come from qualitatively very high rated sources such as solar, wind and biomass power.


the announcement made some news in the local media. that's the way forward! a sceptical reader of the neue zürcher zeitung (see his reader comment below, in german) commented that the municipality is now actually emitting more carbon dioxide under the herrli.naturpower plan...

the fact is that the normal mix which any household (and so every municipality in the canton of zurich) is getting is a almost carbon dioxide free mix of 50% nuclear power and 50% hydro power. according to a study (250 kb, pdf) of the renowned paul scherrer institute, which calculated co2 emissions along the entire energy supply chain, only hydro power (4 gr of co2-equivalent/kwh) beats nuclear power (8 gr of co2-equivalent/kwh). wind and solar follow with 17 respectively 78 grams.still, it is an encouraging start when municipalities begin to actively think and change their electricity contracts. they might find pleasure in choosing and therefore become supporter of a more liberalised electricity market.

beyond that, i actually really wanted to highlight the beauty of grumbling readers that add much to rational and lively democratic decision-making. and, last but not least, this is surely not a plea for nuclear power!