Recap of the June Provincial Council Meeting
During the Provincial Council meeting in early June, numerous votes were cast on motions and amendments. Below, we look back on two key topics that were high on the agenda.
No Additional Research into SMRs in Gelderland
Volt believes that all available technologies should be used to reduce CO₂ emissions: solar, wind, and, in the long run, nuclear energy. That’s why we submitted a motion to gain better insight into the feasibility of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in Gelderland—by calling for additional research into the availability of cooling water at potential locations for these reactors.
The previous research was conducted during an extremely wet year (2024). But during dry summers, rivers can warm up and carry insufficient water. In such cases, nuclear plants cannot discharge cooling water and may need to shut down.
A majority in the Council, particularly from right-wing parties, saw no need for further research. As a result, our motion did not receive enough support.
Traffic Safety Around Loenen and Eerbeek
In addition to the SMR topic, traffic safety around Loenen and Eerbeek was also on the agenda. The province wants to modify the roads and reduce the speed limit to 60 km/h. Volt supports the proposed plan. However, there are concerns about the Kanaalweg near Eerbeek, where the 80 km/h limit will remain in place. Since the responsible deputy made several important commitments during the debate, we ultimately chose not to submit a motion. The commitments we secured include:
A study into a no-overtaking zone on the section where the speed limit cannot be reduced
Monitoring of traffic safety after implementation
A proposal to the Provincial Council for new pedestrian crossings in: Eerbeek, Loenen, Brummen and Rheden.