Loga sámegillii. Norway must develop enormous amounts of renewable energy in the coming years, if we are to get enough power – and at the same time cut emissions and slow down the climate crisis. That was the crystal clear message the experts in the Energy Commission recently put forward. Among other things, they believe that we can increase the production of wind power on land by up to 10 TWh by 2030. This corresponds to the energy use of the whole of Oslo. But where the wind turbines will be located is no simple matter, as the Fosen action has clearly shown. And more controversies may arise, if you look at the latest plan from the Norwegian Directorate of Water Resources and Energy (NVE). It points out areas they believe are suitable for building new wind power. Several of the areas overlap with reindeer grazing. See the map here: Expand to see the whole country: The blue fields are reindeer husbandry areas. The red areas are areas NVE has identified as favorable for wind power. – Means the end for us Areas for wind power are also being investigated outside the areas proposed by NVE. – If we get 72 wind turbines on our summer pasture, that means the end for us. Then we are finished as reindeer herders, says a concerned Isak Mathis Triumf, who belongs to reindeer herding district 34, Ábborášša. Kvænangen is one of the municipalities where Troms kraft and Ymber are considering setting up wind turbines. It overlaps with Ábborášša. According to Triumf, the limit has been reached, they cannot lose any more grazing land. – On our summer pasture in Kvænangen municipality, we already have seven dammed waters, which provide electricity. In connection with this, a road runs through the district which is periodically very busy, he explains. The reindeer owner does not want wind power production on reindeer grazing land. Photo: Ronald Pulk / news The companies are now carrying out a study to look at possibilities for coexistence between power generation and reindeer husbandry. They will also carry out thorough impact investigations, Tromskraft informs news. It will be several years before they decide. Kvænangen municipality is involved in the work to investigate the advantages and disadvantages. For now, mayor Eirik Losnegaard Mevik (Ap) is not positive about the wind turbines. – I can already say that it looks very difficult. That we must be able to find solutions that enable a wind power plant to be built as outlined in the feasibility study, he says. Thinks the Sami have sacrificed enough Sami Parliament President Silje Karine Muotka says the wind industry is not welcome. – I do not want the development of wind power in reindeer grazing land. So I would say that it is a problematic energy source, if the assumption is that it should be in reindeer grazing land. The Sami, who live far north and work close to nature, already feel the climate crisis first hand, says Muotka. The Arctic is warming faster than the rest of the Earth. The President of the Sami Parliament holds an appeal during the Fosen action in Oslo. Photo: Mette Ballovara / news She believes they have already sacrificed a lot for the green shift, and points, among other things, to the controversial development of the Alta-Kautokeinovassdraget. – I would say that we Sami take part in emission reductions through the sacrifices we have made in connection with hydropower development. We have made a solid contribution and continue to do so. But we cannot accept that the little cultural practice we have should be the victim. – Must develop some nature It is important that we learn from the Fosen case, says director of the environmental foundation Zero, Sigrun Gjerløw Aasland. Zero we do not decide whether wind power should be built on grazing areas in the future. – The outcome may be that there are some areas that simply should not have wind turbines. But it could also happen that an outcome could be that we take much better account and grant concessions on completely different conditions and better mitigating measures, she says. She warns against pitting nature conservation and the fight against the climate crisis against each other. It damages both issues, she believes. – We have to develop some nature to solve the climate crisis, but we also have to prioritize much better. And it is actually the case that it is not renewable energy that seizes the most nature. There are other types of developments, such as motorways, she says.
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Here are the reindeer grazing areas where wind turbines can be built – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
