The power companies Ymber and Troms Kraft have been looking for a place to build a new wind farm. They have carried out a feasibility study where they conclude that the mountain Olmmairassa in Kvænangsbotn is best suited for wind power in North Troms. – It is the area that has the greatest potential for efficient wind power in Nord-Troms. This means that we use a small area in relation to the wind power we get to produce, says CEO Semming Semmingsen of Troms Kraft. Semming Semmingsen in Troms Kraft. Photo: Øystein Antonsen / news The area for power production is 13 square kilometres, and can provide close to 1 TWh of renewable power to the residents and businesses in Troms and Finnmark, the two companies claim. – We will chain ourselves firmly to prevent the construction machines from entering the mountain and starting the work, if development is approved, says Mikkel Mathis Hætta, who runs reindeer herding in the area. Offers shares CEO Semmingsen understands the skepticism from the reindeer owners, but hopes that they will turn around. He will offer them to be co-owners as compensation for lost income due to the wind farm. – That is out of the question. We haven’t talked about that once, says Hætta. – We hope we can get help from the Supreme Court judgment from Fosen, adds Henrik to A. Sara, deputy manager in the Abborassa reindeer herding district. The mountain Olmmairassa in Kvænangsbotn. The power companies Ymber and Troms Kraft will build a wind farm here. Photo: Øystein Antonsen / news Leader in reindeer herding district 34, Nils Ante Gaup, says they have already lost grazing land to hydropower and that they don’t have a meter to give away. – We cannot sell off land that our children will take over, he says. – Take a large area Samane who belong to the reindeer herding district believe that the area affected by the development will be much larger than 13 square kilometres. – All roads are not taken into account, and if the avoidance zone for the reindeer is taken into account, the affected area is far larger than what the power company claims, says Gaup. Manager in reindeer herding district 34, Nils Ante Gaup, believes the development will be much larger than 13 square kilometres. Photo: Øystein Antonsen / news He says that the mountain area at Olmmairassa is particularly suitable for calving and summer grazing for the reindeer, because there are long patches of snow in the area where the reindeer move to cool down and get rid of insect pests. The two other reindeer herding districts that have animals in the area are also against having a wind farm in the middle of the mountain where the reindeer calve and graze. In order to move forward with the plans, an impact analysis must be prepared to see how badly the wind turbines affect the reindeer herding and outdoor life in Kvænangen. That work will take four to five years. Once that has been done, it is up to the municipal council to say yes or no. Revenues for the municipality The two power companies say the wind farm at Olmmairassa will provide large revenues for the municipality. NOK 48 million a year from production duty and property tax. In addition, compensation comes to the reindeer herding district and landowners. Mayor of Kvænangen, Eirik Losnegaard Mevik, says that they have not made a decision. Photo: Hanne Wilhelms / news – Kvænangen has good income from both hydropower and farming. Before we make a decision about the construction of a wind farm – for or against – we must make a careful assessment, says mayor Eirik Losnegaard Mevik. He does not want to take a stand on the matter at this time.
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Here they offer the reindeer herding share in a wind farm – news Troms and Finnmark
