Basel-Landschaft voters reject attempt to roll back de facto ban on fossil-fuel heating
Voters in the Swiss canton of Basel-Landschaft on Sunday rejected a homeowner-backed initiative that sought to overturn a de facto ban on new fossil-fuel heating systems. The result preserves regulations that since October 2024 limit new and replacement heating installations to renewable energy sources.
Heating ban survives challenge
The initiative "Energiepolitik nur mit der Bevölkerung" (Energy policy only with the population), launched by the homeowners' association HEV with support from conservative parties, aimed to revert to the 2017 rules and scrap the ban. It would also have eliminated current legal definitions of renewable energy carriers such as district heating, waste heat and fuels produced from renewables.
Voters delivered a clear decision against the rollback. According to the cantonal chancellery, 55,661 voted against the initiative and 44,457 voted in favour, giving a 55.6% no share. Turnout reached 54.1%.
- No (keep ban)
- 55661 votes
- Yes (repeal ban)
- 44457 votes
The timeline of restrictions
The ban on fossil-fuel heating in Basel-Landschaft was introduced in stages through the cantonal Energy Decree. Since October 2024, new buildings have been allowed only heating systems based on renewable energy, with few exceptions. From January 2026 the rule was extended to existing buildings whenever a boiler or a burner older than 15 years is replaced.
- New buildings may only install heating systems using renewable energy (few exceptions).
- Existing buildings must switch to renewables when replacing boilers or burners older than 15 years.
- Voters reject initiative to repeal the ban; both restrictions remain in force.
With the rejection of the initiative, both restrictions remain in force. The vote marks the first popular test of the decree since the second phase took effect at the start of this year.
Road and EU votes also pass
On the same Sunday, the cantonal electorate also approved a CHF 77.8 million renovation and redesign of the Ortsdurchfahrt Birsfelden through-road. The project passed with 52,907 yes votes against 41,241 no votes, a 56.2% majority. The municipality of Birsfelden itself had opposed the project by 58.5%, but the cantonal vote overrode that local rejection.
The road works aim to reduce accident black spots, create a town-centre with more green areas and trees, and improve safety with wider pavements and clearer crossings. Construction is expected to take four to five years.
A third ballot item, the "Zämme in Europa" initiative to add EU cooperation to the cantonal constitution, showed a trend towards acceptance in partial results. With 57 of 86 municipalities counted, support stood at roughly 53.1% with turnout around 55.4%.
