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SFS regrets the result of the vote on the planned wind turbine

February 2025 – In the vote held on February 9, 2025 in the municipality of Au-Heerbrugg, the initiative calling for a minimum distance between wind turbines was approved. The SFS Group is unable to comply with the prescribed minimum dis-tance of 500 m at the planned site in Heerbrugg, which is why it is discontinuing the RhintlWind project. SFS would like to thank all interested parties for the intensive dialog in the run-up to the vote.

Facts & Figures


  • Close vote makes it impossible to continue the RhintlWind project
  • RhintlWind project is discontinued
  • Continued commitment to the expansion of renewable energies
  • Current information on the project at rhintlwind.ch

With a voter turnout of 48.59%, voters in the municipality of Au-Heerbrugg approved the popular initiative with 50.1% in favor. The landmark result of the vote makes it impossible to continue the RhintlWind project. “We regret the extremely close result and would like to thank all interested parties for the intensive dialog over the past few years,” says Jens Breu, CEO of SFS Group.

The past information events were characterized by sometimes emotional discussions. Nevertheless, the exchange with the population showed that the project moved beyond the affected municipality and received a great deal of support. In addition to the local munici-pality of Au, the St.Gallen Rhine Valley Association, the employers' association and numer-ous committed individuals, the Swiss Foundation for Landscape Conservation also support-ed the project.

Project is discontinued
The SFS Group cannot pursue the project any further under the current circumstances. In view of the impending electricity shortfall, the expansion of renewable energy sources will continue to occupy Switzerland. SFS is convinced that industry-integrated wind turbines for decentralized energy generation directly at the point of consumption are part of the energy future. Should the legal situation change in the future, SFS will again seek dialog with the public.

Focus on renewable energies
With the RhintlWind project, the SFS Group wanted to fulfill its responsibility to the envi-ronment and society and make a contribution to regional energy security and independ-ence. The planned wind turbine would have increased the proportion of self-produced elec-tricity by around 10%. It will now be a major challenge to achieve the self-imposed target of producing 30% of the electricity consumed in Switzerland ourselves.

Jens Breu CEO
“Sustainability is not an empty promise for us, but part of our DNA. We will continue to do everything in our power to protect the climate and expand renewable energies”.