Several dozen times, Oil and Energy Minister Terje Aasland has referred to the need for a new “knowledge base”, and to the possibility of finding “mitigation measures” in the Fosen case. Somewhat less often, he has pointed to specific examples of exactly what such measures can be. Communications manager at Fosen Vind, Geir Fuglseth. Fosen Vind has Statkraft as the main owner, and has an annual production of 2.6 terawatt hours a year, spread over five wind farms. Photo: Statkraft Communications manager at Fosen Vind, Geir Fuglseth, confirms to news that a possible solution could be to equip all the wind turbines with cameras and motion sensors, in a so-called “dynamic solution”. – This could be one of the possible measures, but we do not want to advance the outcome of this process, writes Fuglseth in an e-mail. State Secretary Elisabeth Sæther (Ap) says the same: – The Minister of Petroleum and Energy has mentioned the periodic shutdown of wind turbines as one of several measures that may be relevant. More details about this and other possible measures are something that must be looked at in the investigation programme, she tells news. Terje Aasland’s statements about solutions for the Fosen case in Dagsnytt 18 – We must find out how we can form a good knowledge base, so that we can make a new decision that stands up to the rights of indigenous people. – I relate to what the Supreme Court has said. They say that mitigating measures can be established which lower the threshold and do not infringe on the rights of indigenous people. That’s something we have to explore. – Maybe we can demolish some mills, more mills… There could be other measures. What is important is that we then get the expertise in reindeer husbandry into this decision. Show more Avoidance zone of at least 3 kilometers This solution means that the wind turbines are stopped by remote control if cameras or sensors pick up that the reindeer are approaching. This is, among other things, to avoid the reindeer being threatened by very loud noise and ice floe. The ice floe warning for Tuesday 7 March shows, for example, that one must expect ice on blades or towers in all the wind farms at Fosen in the coming hours. Photo: Fosen Vind “Do not approach the turbines”, says the warning. The Supreme Court judgment from 11 October 2021 states that the reindeer have an avoidance zone of at least three kilometers from the windmills. At the same time, the reindeer grazing district at Fosen has an upper reindeer number of 2,100 animals, according to Fosen Vind. They are divided into grazing areas for different seasons, which together make up a gross area of 4,339 square kilometres. On this map, areas for winter grazing for reindeer are marked in blue, while wind farms are marked in green. Photo: Fosen Vind The sharing company in Fosen Vind, Aneo, confirmed last week to the website Energiwatch.no that the wind turbines are not currently equipped with sensors of the type in question. Wind turbines at Storheia wind farm. Photo: Heiko Junge / NTB Head of the reindeer herding district: – Not a terribly good idea Terje Haugen, head of the Nord-Fosen reindeer herding district Photo: ISMAIL BURAK AKKAN / news The proposed solution is not well received by the reindeer herding Sami on Fosen. – It doesn’t sound like a terribly good idea, no, says Terje Haugen, who heads the Nord-Fosen reindeer herding district. He does not think it will be any easier to run reindeer herding on Fosen with such a measure. – In any case, the reindeer will not be near the windmills, and there won’t be any more food as there are such large areas that have been developed. Yesterday, news was able to write about reindeer that seem very comfortable being near wind turbines. Haugen believes this is not representative of the reindeer’s behaviour. – Of course, reindeer will always enter a wind farm. But our problem is that the main gravity will not be there. Private video recording of reindeer at wind turbines in Kjøllefjord. Haugen says the reindeer herding Sami have not had any discussions about the “dynamic solution” yet, neither with Statkraft nor with OED. He experiences contact with the ministry as absent. – We have not had any meetings with the OED for quite some time. As I understand it, those we spoke to in the ministry earlier have now been replaced. There are new people, and we are essentially starting from scratch again. CONCERNED WITH KNOWLEDGE BASE: State Secretary Elisabeth Sæther (Ap) in the Ministry of Oil and Energy says a solid and up-to-date knowledge base is a prerequisite for new decisions in the matter. Photo: Even Bjøringsøy Johnsen / news When asked about this, State Secretary in the Ministry of Oil and Energy Elisabeth Sæther (Ap) replies that they are concerned with finding good solutions. – We must find solutions that safeguard the rights of the reindeer herding Sami on Fosen and create predictability for the reindeer herding and the concessionaires. The aim is to get an investigation program in place and get investigations carried out as quickly as possible. A solid and up-to-date knowledge base is a prerequisite for new decisions in the matter.
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Considering cameras on the windmills at Fosen to protect reindeer herding – news – Klima
