– There is too much noise and resistance. Something must be done, and it quickly. Daily tenant Stig Schjølset in the Environmental Foundation Zero refers to the referendum in Modalen on Monday. There, thank you the majority – 186 inhabitants – no to build what can become Norway’s largest wind turbine. Berre 78 voted yes to 100 turbines distributed over 55 square kilometers in the Stølsheimen mountain area. Although they a total of 386 inhabitants in the small municipality were lured with a new tunnel, fifteen new jobs, cheaper electricity and NOK 100 million in annual municipal revenues for ten years. But it does not succeed, says Schjølset. – There are too unfavorable framework conditions for the municipalities to accept yes, and it still takes a long time for the operation to become salaried and the municipality gets revenues. Young Left has also been strongly involved in the case: – If everyone is to do as the modal, it means death for wind power on land in Norway. It is totally disabled for the company, claims tenant Omar Svendsen-Yagzi. Local power against wind power earlier was the state that had the last word in cases dealing with power development. Now the rule is that the state should not review a local no to wind power. Wind power actualizes a matter of principle in democracy: Who should have the last word in a case that is important for both the local community and the larger community? Judging if the municipal council wants development, while the state does it mean nationally important natural values? Or if the municipal council wants nature conservation, while the state thinks the country needs new energy production? 70 per cent in Modalen voted no at the municipal building. This previously prevents the construction of the country’s largest wind power plants. Photo: Therese Grimstad Pisani / news The Solberg government in 2019 passed away a national wind power plan over the area that was relevant for development, because the plan met with great resistance. She later proposed municipal veto rights in wind power cases. In 2023, the Støre government adopted this: That the municipal council should have the last word-veto-if the local politicians do not want wind power development in their area. Young Left: No to veto rights Young Left thinks the veto rights to the municipalities must be scraped – and it soon. Omar Svendsen-Yagzi is afraid it will be the hook on the door for Norwegian wind power production, certain municipalities can decide alone. Photo: Saeed Zubair – That we have small communes that say no to the necessary power is a threat to our common safety. -Never before has it been more important with green energy that makes us independent of Russia, strengthens the Norwegian economy and delineates climate change, says Svendsen-Yagzi. An expert in the power industry, Jøran Sandvik in the law firm Haavind, thinks the power of the municipalities should be reduced. – The veto right should not be used until an impact assessment has actually been made. In this way, the developers can get the opportunity to present facts to local politicians, he says to Europower. – Wind power is almost not expanded in Norway, although this is the most salaried and efficient power development we have, says Stig Schjølset. Photo: Nora Hindenes / Zero Zero has recently sent a proposal to the Storting that they think may be tilting some municipalities from saying no to accepting the wind power: Giving the municipalities an income without conditions, already in the development license (the license) is granted. Energiwatch has also mentioned this proposal. Today, the municipalities only receive income when power generation starts. Left: Yes to veto rights While Young Left wants to remove the veto right against wind power, “the adult” left does not agree. – We think the municipalities should be able to decide whether it should be possible to expand wind power or not. At the same time, there must be good framework conditions for wind power, so that we get investments in Norway, says parliamentary representative Ola Elvestuen. – We have good wind power resources in Norway. But we need a national plan, with frameworks and advice, to give clearer signal to the municipalities and the industry about the remaining natural values are too large, and where it can be built, says Elvestuen. … but just veto certain “no” – the municipalities should have the opportunity to say no or yes. Then NVE must make an assessment anyway, regardless of whether the municipality has said yes, he says. – What is the point of it, if the municipality has veto? – Even if a municipality is for wind power development, the state must of course be able to say no, if it has a great negative effect on national or regional conservation values. – Or opposite, if the municipality says no, but it goes beyond the energy supply nationally or regionally? – No, then NVE should not be able to override the municipality. The modal has a lot of hydropower plants. Now the majority among the inhabitants has said no to house 100 wind turbines as well. Photo: Therese Grimstad Pisani / news – so the state should be able to review a local yes, but not a local no? – Yes. That’s how it is, and so it should be, says Elvestuen. The developer waives if there is a small municipality like the modal that says no to the giant plans, he thinks he is irrelevant. The wind power opponents Arnold Matre and Ståle Hauge in the organization “People for the Fjella” cheered when the people’s harvesting in the Modalen clearly showed a majority against the development plans. Photo: Therese Pisani / news – A municipality is a municipality. Then it is the municipality that decides, completely independent of the number of inhabitants. The opponents cheered after the people’s harvest in Modalen, but there are the last words not said. The municipal council will make its decision on April 10. – We take the decision to the politicians, and keep up to it, says project manager Espen B. Christophersen in Norwegian wind. Published 12.03.2025, at. 17.45 Updated 12.03.2025, at. 18.34
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