Per Jørgen Sørbø worked as a technician at the wind power plant in Kjøllefjord for 10 years, and claims that he often saw reindeer walking around and under the turbines. – My experience was that the reindeer seemed calm and we could easily find reindeer sleeping in the shadow of a turbine, says Sørbø. He says that the times the reindeer seemed frightened were by motorized traffic or by human activity. – It was if people came. When we came driving to work, says Sørbø. Per Jørgen Sørbø has worked as a technician at the wind power plant in Kjøllefjord for ten years. He believes that it seems as if the reindeer do not shy away from the wind turbines. Photo: Allan Klo / news He believes that what he has experienced indicates that the reindeer can adapt to wind turbines. – In any case, they are not afraid. We also saw reindeer that were almost on their way up the stairs and into the turbine, he says. – The animals are stressed Deputy manager of reindeer grazing district 9 Čorgaš, Magne Ballovarre, says that it is not unnatural that you can observe reindeer around wind turbines. He says that it is about smaller flocks, which just follow the route they have always followed. – The animals try to get through the migration beds, but you can see from the animals that they are stressed and that they move quickly through the areas. – Our experience is that most of the animals avoid the area to such an extent that it is considered lost, says the reindeer owner. Magne Ballovara, deputy leader in reindeer grazing district 9, is worried about the future with all the planned wind power plans in Eastern Finnmark. Photo: EILIF ASLAKSEN / news Ballovarre explains that where the reindeer used to spread along the coastline, they are now moving away and thus there is less food available. – We have never had to feed our animals on the summer pasture on the island. But now we have to feed them until it turns green, he says. Ballovarre says that because the grazing areas are shrinking, they now have to keep the herd alive in an unnatural way. – We are being turned into farmers. We are not made to be that way, but society at large pushes it on us, he says. The number of reindeer has increased Despite the wind turbines, the number of reindeer has not decreased in the district, figures from the resource accounts for the State Administrator show. On the contrary, the number has increased from 3,200 animals in 2000 to 5,500 reindeer in 2010. In 2006, the wind turbines came. Ballovarre says that the number of reindeer has always fluctuated, and if you look at the statistics, the number in 2011/2012 was 5454, while in 2013/2014 it was 4407 reindeer. In 2020/2021, the number was 5352. Ballovarre says that the number of reindeer has always fluctuated. – Nature takes and nature gives. This year, with good grazing conditions and with many female calves, production will increase. We have also become more athletes, says Ballovarre. The figures show that in 2002/2003 there were 10 sii shares (operating units) and 63 people in the district. In 2020/2021 there were 10 side shares, and 85 people. He believes that the number of reindeer is irrelevant in the debate, and points out that the natural way of managing reindeer is about to disappear. 1) Davvi wind power plant 2) Digermulen wind power plant 3) Laksefjorden wind power plant 4) Sandfjellet wind power plant Reindeer district 13 – Siskit Čorgaš and Lágesduottar. 99 people are part of 19 sii shares. has many moving and moving beds in the area (marked with green lines). The wind turbines need new 420 kV lines to send out the power (marked with red lines). In addition, an extensive road network must be built to the facilities. Need power There are currently 17 wind turbines in the district. This is only blueberry compared to what is planned in Eastern Finnmark. If you add up all the projects, you land somewhere between 300 and 450 wind turbines. – Wind power and reindeer cannot be reconciled. We also know that wind power will require balancing power in the future. Then we fear that areas will be dammed up with water, and further confiscate the pastures. – Then the reindeer don’t have the right to life, and then neither do we, says the reindeer owner. Mayor of Lebesby, Sigurd Rafaelsen, has many projects and dreams for development in the municipality. But he needs power. Mayor of Lebesby, Sigurd Rafaelsen, believes the development projects may take longer to complete after the Fosen case. But have an optimist. Photo: Allan Klo / news After the Fosen case, he is afraid that the development projects may go slower than he had hoped. – The biggest challenge will be that we have to wait a while. That we will live in uncertainty. But it is important that the processes go their way and that you follow the rules, says the mayor. When asked if he was surprised to see photographic evidence of the reindeer walking around the wind turbines, he says: – No, I was not surprised. But I am also no expert on reindeer and therefore cannot say that there are no evasions. Wasn’t heard In 2012, a research report was published showing that the reindeer did not shy away from the wind turbines. Reindeer Ballovarre believes this research is not worth much. – We were not even heard. He says the reindeer were fenced in during the research, which meant they couldn’t get away. It was then concluded that because there was a lot of excrement in the area, it meant that the reindeer were not afraid, he says. – The methods used are hair-raising. When the reindeer gets scared, it spreads its hind legs and releases lots of excrement before running away, he says. The case at the time ended with a discretionary decision of NOK 7,500 per operating unit. – It does not even constitute a feed sack. Researcher Jonathan Colman told news in 2012 that he regretted that reindeer husbandry’s view was not well enough represented. He said that they had tried to be drawn into the research repeatedly, without success.
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Reinen had no problem with the wind turbines, says a technician at a wind power plant – news Troms and Finnmark
