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On behalf of the Storting, the Ministry of Oil and Energy has now reviewed the licensing process for several wind turbines in Norway.
In a letter to the municipality of Stad and to the mayor Alfred Bjørlo (V), the ministry now writes that there is no basis to stop the development of the Okla wind farm in Stad.
The Ministry concludes that there are no errors or omissions in the decisions that may give rise to nullity. That is why there is no basis to stop the construction of the Okla wind farm, ”the letter says.
– It is a long and thorough review of the case. At the local level, nothing more can be done, says Bjørlo.
BUILDING WIND POWER: Excavators have started building roads in Stad.
Photo: Asgeir Heimdal Reksnes / NRK
The precious nature does not hold
In the evaluation of the wind power plant in Stad, the ministry has analyzed several things, among other impact evaluations and errors related to the natural value have been considered.
NRK recently reported on how nature in Stad loses value overnight, after a new consulting firm evaluated and downgraded nature, which is both rare and snowshoeing.
Despite this, the ministry does not change its mind.
– This review shows that there are strong conflicts between nature conservation and development in this case. If the natural value is sufficient basis to change the license today, I simply cannot answer, says Bjørlo, noting that the case is now on the Storting table.
THE PARLIAMENT: The Mayor of Stad, Alfred Bjørlo (V), says that the case of the Okla wind farm is now on the table of the Storting.
Photo: Asgeir Heimdal Reksnes / NRK
He points out that it was the former municipality of Selje that took the initiative and supported the wind project for many years.
– For many years, Okla wind turbines had broad political support. Now we have reached a point where the mood has changed and there is a different attitude towards the project in the municipality of Stad. But the project has come so far that all permits have been granted, he says.
It will tighten the legislation
The Storting representative, Lars Haltbrekken (SV), believes that one is satisfied with changing the legislation.
– This is a wind farm that should not have been licensed. If it is the case that one can develop wind power in the beautiful and vulnerable natural landscape of Stad, that shows that we must achieve a change in the licensing laws, he says.
CHANGE: Storting’s representative Lars Hatlebrekken (SV) wants strict legislation when it comes to wind power.
Photo: Jo Straube
This fall the entire licensing system for wind power will be evaluated.
– SV will argue that we must emphasize nature conservation much stronger than today. Our goal is to change the system so that the wind turbines we see at Stad don’t get a license, he says.
Hatlebrekken says development at Stad should not have received a license.
– Now we see that the legislation is too weak and we must toughen it this fall, he says.
Find no fault
It was this summer that the Storting decided that all awarded wind power licenses that have not started construction would be reconsidered. This also applies to the Okla wind farm.
The wind energy industry announced that halting planned developments will lead to giant lawsuits. Now it appears that the industry can keep up with more wind energy projects.
– I have emphasized that the ministry must do a thorough work on these issues in light of the Storting’s decision, something that we have also made clear in the budget bill. With these assessments and the letter that is now being sent to the affected stakeholders, we have responded to the Storting’s decision, says the Minister of Oil and Energy, Tina Bru (H).
FINAL PHASE: The Minister of Oil and Energy, Tina Bru (H), says in the pages of the ministry that they are now in the final phase of the revision work of the first wind energy licenses.
Photo: Erlend Hykkerud / NRK
So far the licenses of the Gismarvik, Vardafjell and Okla wind turbines have been evaluated. The Ministry has not found errors or omissions in any of them.
