If they managed to vote before noon, the Storting will today send a “marching order” to the government to explore whether carbon capture and storage (CCs) could be an alternative to electrifying Melkøya. The majority consists of a united opposition. news is aware that the ruling parties, the Center Party and the Labor Party, will also vote yes to the “loose proposal”, which was drawn up some “late hours” on Wednesday evening. The initiator of the proposal was Terje Halleland (Frp), who was joined by Ola Elvestuen (V), Lars Haltbrekken (SV) and Nikolai Astrup (H). – It is unproblematic for us to support our own assessment of carbon capture and storage, because it is important to ensure trust in the decision of the governing authorities, says Marianne Sivertsen Næss (Ap), who is the leader of the energy and environment committee at the Storting. During the national meeting of the Center Party in March, a bunch of “stream rebels” won the majority on a party decision to stop the plans to electrify Melkøya. – We will support the loose proposal from the FRP which calls for an assessment of CCs as an alternative to electrification, says the parliamentary representative for Sp, Ole André Myhrvold. – It is unproblematic for us to support an own assessment of carbon capture and storage, because it is important to ensure trust in the decision of the governing authorities, says Marianne Sivertsen Næss (Ap). Photo: Allan Klo / news Equinor says it will be too expensive The decision, whether it is today or next Tuesday, is the last twist in the “saga about Milk Island”. The story begins in December when Equinor applied to the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy to dismantle five gas power plants outside Hammerfest, and replace them with electricity from the grid. The aim is to cut emissions from what is currently Norway’s third largest CO₂ emission point. The measure will annually “cost” 3.6 terawatt-hours, which is the same amount of power that Finnmark uses today. Equinor has argued that the CCS alternative is too expensive, complicated and space-consuming, while other voices have made a point that Equinor has “inflated the costs” and that it is primarily a matter of will. – The consequences of today’s vote are that the government must be properly paid for carbon capture and storage. The Melkøya case is one of the year’s most important political cases. We now expect the government to have all its cards on the table. We are well on our way to that with today’s voting, says Eivind Berstad in Bellona. news has been in contact with representatives from all opposition parties, who are all happy about the latest twist in the Melkøya case (see below). – This is very gratifying Terje Halleland, Frp – This is very gratifying. The power situation in Finnmark makes it necessary to look at alternatives to electrify Melkøya with power from land. Kjell Ingolf Ropstad, KrF – It is an important decision to get a thorough understanding of the possibilities for CCs, and one should also consider the opportunity for partial electrification. The governing party should be concerned with the current situation in Finnmark and when he is as critical as he is, they should agree to this decision. Sofie Marhaug, Raudt – The proposal means that the government must consider this again. Then it will not work to point to assessments over ten years old to reject this technology. The government can of course try to train the will of the parliamentary majority, but that is not particularly democratic. In that case, there must be consequences. If the Storting is run over, there will probably be a new and stricter marching order that cannot be ignored. Lars Haltbrekken, SV – Europe is now facing another serious dry summer. Then Norway cannot weaken its climate targets by neglecting to cut emissions from one of our biggest emission points. It is absolutely crucial that emissions from Melkøya are cut in order for us to reach our climate targets. At the same time, it is important that we avoid draining Finnmark of its power and that we avoid new serious conflicts with reindeer herding. With carbon capture and storage, we kill two birds with one stone. Terje Halleland, Frp – The power situation in Finnmark makes it necessary to look at alternatives to electrifying Melkøya with power from shore. With this proposal, carbon capture and storage will also be better considered as an alternative in addition to offshore wind. It is very gratifying that we are getting a majority in place. Kristoffer Robin Haug, MDG – We support the CCS proposal to ensure that the precious stream is instead used for our mainland industry. But we believe that Equinor and the oil industry itself must foot the bill to cut their own emissions. It makes sense that they use the super profit they have as a result of Putin’s energy war to cut emissions. Ola Elvestuen, Venstre – The decision means that the government must carry out its own analysis of costs and possibilities for carbon capture and storage on Melkøya. Sp and Ap should also vote for it, and not just uncritically continue to accept the numbers and boundaries presented by Equinor. For Venstre, this is an important breakthrough in being able to push further for our proposal to put in place the capture and storage of CO₂ on Melkøya as an alternative to power from land. Frederic Hauge, Bellona – It is very gratifying that the Storting instructs the government to carry out a thorough analysis of carbon capture and storage. The Melkøya case is one of the year’s most important political cases, and decisive for Finnmark’s future and for Norway’s climate goals. It is therefore important to get all the cards on the table about how emissions can be cut on Melkøya. The “loose proposal” was drawn up at Terje Halleland’s (Frp) home some “late hours” on Wednesday evening. Photo: Håvard Nyhus – It is embarrassing to be voted down – When the government votes for this proposal, it is because it would have received a majority. And it’s embarrassing to be voted down. But it is also good that it can be unanimous. Then it obliges even more, says Sofie Marhaug in Raudt. news has been in contact with Equinor, which replies that they will not comment on the matter until the voting has actually been carried out. The plans to use 3.6 terawatt-hours to electrify the gas plant on Melkøya outside Hammerfest have caused debate in the past year for several reasons: Because new power lines may come into conflict with reindeer grazing areas. Because the plans collide with other power-demanding industries in the north, which compete for the same power. Because the power situation is strained enough as it is, and further “congestion” can push up the electricity price. far into the government, symbolized by no to the plans from the county party in the Center Party and “yes” from the Labor Party. Hammerfest mayor Terje Wikstrøm (Ap) says there is a doctor in the cards that there will be a majority for a new resolution of carbon capture on Melkøya. He clarifies that he is not negative about carbon capture, but that he has confidence in the figures that Equinor has presented. – If the costs they have arrived at are correct, then it should be quick to sort out carbon capture on Melkøya, he says. The mayor of Snøhvitbyen further points out that the resolution must be done quickly. Both because of the compression solution on the Snøhvit field and to reduce the discharge on Melkøya. – I hope that such a solution will have a short deadline, so that it does not affect the project. The decision, whether it will be today or next Tuesday, is the last twist in the “Milky Way saga”. Photo: Sunniva Hadland Bøthun / news
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The Storting asks the government to consider alternatives to electrification – news Vestland
