A white Tesla turns past Restranda and up the steep road at Neselva in Kandal in Nordfjord. When the government presented the District Report last summer, it was in this valley that it was presented. Between mountains, cultural landscapes and small waterfalls in what up to several members of the government will argue is the most beautiful part of the country. – We must have something to live on as well, says Olav Fuglestrand. He parks as the ground becomes slacker and the Stølsheim unfolds. In his hand, he has the application to build a small power plant that was sent to NVE in February 2019. Almost six years later, he is still waiting for an answer. – It is frustrating, he says. Olav Fuglestrand does not understand why NVE has to spend over five years processing a license application. Photo: Håvard Nyhus / news – I want to build this power plant because we need it The application concerns a “kinder” and scaled-down version of an earlier power project that he discussed with NVE way back in 2014. The tiny power plant could produce electricity for 700 households. Where the river flows into Breimsvatnet, another small power plant is already in operation. A small power plant is a small power plant that has a production capacity of less than 10 MW. – It’s not that I go around dreaming about this power plant, says Olav. – I am not an emotional person. I am more practical. I want to build this power plant because we need it. On the same day, he is visited on the farm by another intern: Senior manager Erna Solberg. During the Kraft i vest conference this week, she used part of her allotted speaking time to talk about the wait for Fuglestrand and the processing time for NVE more generally. – It doesn’t work, she says to news. – What is wrong? – It is not possible for six years to pass without hearing anything. NVE cannot spend that long. And then the most important thing for me is that people say yes, because we need the power. See the response from NVE further down. A power plant in Neselva will be able to supply electricity to 700 households. Photo: Håvard Nyhus / news – The Støre government’s action lame In Høgre’s proposal for a new party program – “Klart Noreg can” – the party advocates for “developing more power and a faster network, among other things by reducing the overall processing time”. Other measures are to assess municipalities that want to develop power production before 2030 through “time-limited incentive schemes”, and to “facilitate more small-scale power”. Due to electrification, the Energy Commission has stipulated that Norway needs “at least 40 TWh” by 2030. – One way to get new power in a short time is to develop more small power. Although these can be built with less conflict, the Støre government is paralyzed, says Solberg. This is answered by NVE Inga Nordberg, NVE director – It is not normal for cases to take so long. Treatment of small power normally takes 1 to 2 years depending on complexity. We also refer to our prioritization criteria, which affect how highly the case is prioritized by us. Figures from the Small Power Association show that the Solberg government granted a license to 22 small power plants in the last three years they governed. On Støre’s watch, a license has been granted to three small power plants. – The politicians live in a national illusion of power, said the leader of Fornybar Noreg, Åslaug Haga, last week. Today there are more than 850 small power plants in this country, with a total of 11.3 TWh in production. According to a controversial report, it is possible to develop a further 16.7 terawatt-hours (TWh) with new small-scale power by 2030. The Minister of Energy: – Six years is too long to wait Energy Minister Terje Aasland, who also participated in the Power in the West conference at Sandane , rejects the criticism from Solberg. He points out that the government has implemented “a historic increase in staffing” to reduce the length of the application queues at NVE. – But in general I can say that six years is far too long to wait. Earlier in the week, Ap’s program committee announced that the party will put pressure on itself to make decisions and changes in energy policy that realize more power. The pressure comes in the form of a proposed target to realize 20 TWh through energy efficiency and local power production. The proposal is now being heard in the party organisation, and will not be adopted before the national meeting in May 2025. The license application was drawn up and sent for consideration several years ago, but Olav Fuglestrand is still waiting for a response from NVE. Photo: Håvard Nyhus / news Published 20.09.2024, at 09.31
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Olav has been waiting for an answer from the state for six years – news Vestland
