Framstegspartiet leader Sylvi Listhaug has taken the trip to Tokke power plant in Dalen. Here, a current is created from the forces in watercourses originating from Vinjevatnet. She wants more of this. Listhaug wants a major investment in Norwegian hydropower – and wants to touch the 389 protected waterways in this country. Photo: Hans Philip Hofgaard / news – Hydropower has built Norway, and we believe we should expand hydropower further, so that we can have increased access to power, says Listhaug. – Many protected in the 60s She believes the plant at Tokke symbolizes a bygone era in Norwegian industrial history. Because while others point to wind power as a solution to prevent power shortages in the short term, Listhaug believes the solution lies in upgrading existing power plants and looking at new developments in protected waterways. – We have to build more and then hydropower is our solution, says she, who believes that wind power destroys nature. The Energy Commission has pointed out that Norway needs “at least 40 terawatt hours (TWh)” extra by 2030. To put it in context: Tokke power plant produces around 2.35 TWh annually, according to Statkraft. In other words, around 17 equivalent power plants are needed to achieve the target. – But these protected waterways are protected for a reason then? – Yes, but there has been a development since we did it. Many of these were protected in the 60s, says Listhaug, and emphasize that they will expand in a gentle way. – Need more The sum of very high electricity prices, green conversion and the risk of flooding meant that several lots were opened for construction in protected watercourses a couple of years ago. The FRP already voted for this in the Storting in 2021. The following year, Høgre ignited the debate, when they also opened up construction in protected waterways. The right now stands its ground. Energy policy spokesperson Bård Ludvig Thorheim believes that the conservation plans in his day were painted with a broad brush. – When we now need much more power, we believe that we can look at the places where people called a complete stop without any good reason, and see if we can develop in a way that takes care of nature, says Thorheim. Photo: Frode Fjerdingstad / news – Should we drop wind power and solar power then? – No, this will be in addition to With a renewable society, adjustable water power is also important. We need more of that, says Thorheim. This summer, dozens of rivers were closed to fishing, as a result of unusually few salmon in the rivers. – Won’t intervening in even more watercourses just add to the burden? – We have several examples of power plants contributing to a better salmon river. In recent times, we have managed to expand in a way that is responsible for nature, says Thorheim, who is himself a keen salmon fisherman. – Local communities want hydropower In Tokke municipality, residents benefit from a maximum electricity price of 38 øre per kilowatt hour. By opening more waterways for power production, Listhaug will ensure more people in Norway have access to stable power and power prices. Listhaug looks at a picture of when Prime Minister Einar Gerhardsen pressed the start button in Tokke power plant in 1961. At that time, Norway went from power rationing to becoming a power exporter. The question is whether Listhaug will get political Norway on board with a new major investment in hydropower. Photo: Hans Philip Hofgaard / news She believes that the municipalities will be more positive about the development of hydropower than wind power. Thorheim also believes that there is great commitment among mayors for more hydropower. – I know of several local communities where they strongly want hydropower, says Thorheim, and points to the Verdalsvassdraget, among other things. – The government should listen to its local union representatives, who want exactly this. In 2021, both the governing party the Center Party and the FRP voted to open protected waterways for power production. – Right to the past – This is a blow in the air especially from the Frp, but now also the Right. Says Energy Minister Terje Aasland (Ap). – They have been in government for eight years, and they have not lifted a finger to implement any of it. We also know that the supporting parties Venstre and KrF do not want this. Aasland mentions that NVE is already in the process of looking at all the protected waterways in Norway. In his New Year’s speech in 2001, then Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said that “the time for new large power developments in Norway is over”, and pointed to hydropower. Photo: Gorm Kallestad / NTB Now, however, Labor Minister Aasland and the government are open to power development in some protected watercourses, but only where it can contribute to flood protection. – I think we should take care of the watercourse nature we have. I believe hydropower development belongs to the past. – We have alternatives that are better combined with offshore wind, upgrades of hydropower plants and gentle development of wind power on land, says Aasland.
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FRP wants to have power production in protected waterways – Vestfold and Telemark
