– It blows here almost every day, so here there are good conditions for wind. The garden at Tor Even Mæland is almost surrounded by wind turbines. Four wind power plants with a total of over 130 wind turbines tower, with the tallest turbines at 200 metres. The largest wind power plant is the so-called Bjerkreim cluster with 70 wind turbines. The local politicians in Time cheer on the project for the farmer on Høg-Jæren, and they have said yes in two rounds. But the State Administrator in Rogaland believes that one farm wind turbine is too much. – There will be encroachment on nature, but will it be such a large encroachment that it becomes a problem? I can’t see that a farm windmill in the yard on one’s own farm, among farm buildings, and with a busy road right nearby, should be a problem, says Mæland. Farmer Tor Even Mæland explains to Fornybar Norge’s manager, Åslaug Haga, that he is surrounded by large wind turbines on Høg-Jæren. Photo: Thomas Ystrøm / news – State administrators run over the municipality Renewable Norway, an interest and employer organization for the entire renewables industry, believes that the case at Høg-Jæren in Time municipality is just one of several proofs that the state administrators have not understood their mission. – Here, Samrøyest’s local politicians have said yes. The central governing body has said that it is the municipalities that should have their hands on the wheel and make the final decisions on the construction of energy facilities. And then the State Administrator in Rogaland says something completely different and overrules the municipality. This is not up to scratch, says the head of Renewable Norway, Åslaug Haga. The manager of Fornybar Norge, Åslaug Haga, is not satisfied with the State Administrator, who has complained about Tor Even Mæland’s wind turbine. Photo: Thomas Ystrøm / news The municipalities have had much more to say about whether wind turbines can be installed (external link). They have been given a kind of veto right through the Planning and Building Act. But Fornybar Norge feels that the state administrators are now coming up with more objections to development plans. – There are many indications that the State Administrator has not realized that there is a new management regime for energy. There is a political desire for more power to be produced, and then the state administrator must take care of that, says Haga. Renewable Norway has asked the Ministry of Local Government and Districts to be even clearer to the state administrators to be careful when inspecting the municipalities. Refuting the criticism The local politicians in Time have twice approved the wind turbine. But the State Administrator in Rogaland has complained about the decision. County environmental protection manager Marit Sundsvik Bendixsen at the State Administrator in Rogaland believes the Tor Even Mæland wind turbine will damage natural values. Photo: Thomas Ystrøm / news Now it is up to the State Administrator in Vestland, as the State Administrator, to decide what happens next with the Tor Even Mæland wind turbine. – The problem is that the wind turbine will be located in the middle of two large natural areas where birds migrate between them, says County Environment Protection Manager Marit Sundsvik Bendixen at the State Administrator in Rogaland. – But the area is full of wind turbines. Do you understand that there is a reaction to the fact that a small backyard wind turbine is a problem? – We see that when we make statements related to the natural environment, not everyone sees it as we do. And thus it is not always that they understand the problem, says Bendixen. The county environmental protection manager in Rogaland rejects the criticism from Renewable Norway, and says that they are doing the job they are set to do by the Government. – We take this seriously. This tiny windmill is small in the big picture, if you look at power in the whole of Norway. But we want what the government wants, and we take that into account when we make our statements, says Bendixen. Høg-Jæren and Bjerkreim have 130 wind turbines, distributed among four wind power plants. Photo: Thomas Ystrøm / news Paying off with a green shift Farmer Tor Even Mæland has fought for several years to get the wind turbine installed, and he has no intention of giving up. Farmer Tor Even Mæland wants to be part of the green shift, and he hopes he will be allowed to set up a farm wind turbine. Photo: Thomas Ystrøm / news – It is important to reduce the costs on the farm, and thus have the opportunity to run the farm. There is a requirement to operate without lice within ten years’ time, and that means major investments, explains Mæland. He believes that the green shift can be a solution for farmers to be better off financially in the future – We in agriculture have committed ourselves to trying to get away from fossil fuels and onto electricity. And then I think that this measure is right on the mark, concludes Mæland. The largest wind turbines neighboring Tor Even Mæland are around 200 meters high. Photo: Thomas Ystrøm / news
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