On Monday, the municipal council in Suldal dealt with a controversial municipal plan. Should the politicians say yes or no to adopting plans that will facilitate the construction of a giant offshore wind plant at Jelsa? The vast majority of politicians voted in favor of the plan, which gives the green light to future production of chassis for offshore wind turbines. This could mean between 1,000 and 4,000 new jobs for a municipality with approximately 3,800 inhabitants. The plans have previously been referred to as Norway’s next industrial adventure, while critics believe the plant will destroy nature in the municipality. The municipal board in Suldal gathered for the meeting on Monday 25 September. Photo: Øystein Otterdal / news Mayor Gerd Helen Bø (Sp) voted for the plans. – This was an important decision to get started and work on the zoning plans, she says. It is the company WindWorks that will build a facility in Norsk Stein’s enormous quarry in Suldal. Norsk Stein is Europe’s largest quarry. Norsk Stein is Europe’s largest quarry. Photo: Magnus Stokka / news – Gambler with important salmon fjord SV’s representative Tormod Skeie was among the three in the municipal council who voted against the plan. He is very critical that it was adopted. – Today, Suldal lost an opportunity to distinguish itself in a major case with a national dimension. I had hoped they saw the big picture in this case, he says. Skeie believes that more jobs cannot compensate for the disadvantages of the facility. – We are a municipality of 3,800 people who may want to get up to 4,000 jobs. An offshore wind farm will be a major social experiment, and nature will suffer. We are also gambling with a very important salmon fjord, he says, referring to the national salmon fjord Sandsfjorden, which is located just outside the area where the plant will be built. The map shows the town of Jelsa in Suldal and the fjord that lies by Jelsa. Responds to connection WindWorks has been established by the Norsea group, Suldal municipality and Ryfylke IKS. The critics of the offshore wind plans believe that the municipality’s ownership of WindWorks is problematic. – The overall consequences are far too large and extensive, as well as the fact that it all seems to have been initiated by Suldal municipality’s own financial investments in the aforementioned WindWorks Jelsa, writes the Norwegian Nature Conservancy in their consultation report which has been sent to the municipality. Gerd Helen Bø, mayor of Suldal (Sp). Photo: Håkon Mannsåker / news Mayor Bø rejects this. – It is fairly common for municipalities to facilitate businesses. The ownership share is very small, so I think this is a common municipal way of attracting jobs, she says. Tormod Skeie in SV. Photo: Øystein Otterdal / news Much involvement in the municipality Editor Esther Moe in Suldalsposten says the residents of Suldal have strong opinions on the issue. – This has been a case that has involved violently over quite a long time. The debate is probably more nuanced than what often emerges. Many have their work at Norsk Stein, but it is more in the blue how this wind turbine production will turn out, she says. Esther Moe is an editor at Suldalsposten. Photo: Ole Andreas Bø The state administrator has previously had objections in the case. Several of these have now been withdrawn. – We have mediated with the state administrator and taken their input into account. The case has been well investigated, says Mayor Bø. But Skeie in SV has no intention of giving up. – This is still dependent on government subsidies and guidance, no one will do anything here unless it is profitable. The future will show whether we get an offshore wind plant, he says.
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The municipal council in Suldal gives the green light to offshore wind facilities at Jelsa – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
