– I have some nights where I think – imagine if this doesn’t happen. It will be a big splash for all the time and resources we have put into this until now. Marte Eide Klovning is mayor of around 200 people in Norway’s smallest municipality, Utsira. A municipality that is known for its rich and unique birdlife, but which otherwise has few jobs and struggles to keep the population up. – We have wondered what we should come up with out here. Why would anyone set up their businesses out here? What is unique about us? Far from the mainland and bad weather. Then suddenly this has turned into our advantage. Promises nothing After the government decided that Norway’s largest and perhaps the world’s largest floating offshore wind project, Utsira Nord, will use two-thirds of the municipality’s area, there has been an influx of visitors from far and wide who want to see what the municipality can offer. There have been many visits to Utsira after it became known that the municipality will house large parts of Utsira Nord. Photo: Åse Karin Hansen / news Director of communications and government relations at A/S Norske Shell, Jan Soppeland, has already been to Utsira ten times. Director of communications and government relations at A/S Norske Shell, Jan Soppeland Photo: Norske Shell – It is extremely important for us to understand what the community out here can get out of this, and what we can get out of this together. – What have you promised in terms of jobs? – I have not promised anything. There will be jobs, and I think it will be a good addition to Utsira society if this is realized in a good way. Shell, together with the energy companies Lyse and Eviny, is one of the consortia that wants to take part in the development. Both because they believe this will be the start of something that can be as big as oil and gas, and because the state will contribute billions of dollars. – It is absolutely crucial that the state contributes. For now it is not profitable. All applications are rejected But no one knows how much the state will contribute, even if NVE has calculated it. Nor what Utsira gets in return for being the host and pilot municipality. – I have been told that we must not think that we will get so much in return for this. Then we become even more combative. Even though we are small, we have big ambitions, and we must be allowed to have that, says the mayor. Mayor Marte Eide Klovning welcomes a group who want to see and hear about the plans for floating offshore wind in Utsira municipality. Photo: Åse Karin Hansen / news The ambitions are lasting income, 50 new jobs, housing and better roads. With seven employees in the administration and an annual budget of NOK 40 million, the municipality must achieve just that on its own. For all applications and inquiries about extra support from the state have so far been refused. – It is demanding. Over the past year, we have become aware that this cannot consume all of our resources. If we are to manage to keep up with Utsira Nord and further development, then we need more resources and people to help us further. Pilot municipality Former business developer in the municipality, Grete Møgster, has worked for three years to make the municipality visible to authorities and businesses. She believes the state has a responsibility even before the wind turbines are built. Former business developer Grete Møgster on the far left in the picture on her way out of the Utsira boat with a group of offshore wind enthusiasts. Photo: Åse Karin Hansen / news – We have been given a responsibility without a budget. We are directly affected, and we are the first municipality along the coast to get an offshore wind farm. The authorities must know their visiting hours. They have not fully understood that we are a pilot and host municipality that will welcome the world’s largest floating marine industry. Utsira municipality is almost only sea. The island people live on makes up less than 1 percent of the area. The Planning and Building Act does not apply to marine areas, and the municipality does not have the right to levy property tax either. They have no control over virtually the entire municipality. Energy Minister Terje Aasland has previously promised that Utsira will be left with something, but has not said anything more about what it is. Concerned about the birds In Merkeskogen on the island, life is bustling where the birds hang out in the nets that have been set up. Several times a day, the members of the Utsira bird station go round and pick out the birds to ring them. Board member of the Utsira bird station, Øystein B. Nilsen, picks out a bird from the nets to ring it. Photo: Åse Karin Hansen / news For bird enthusiasts, Utsira is an eldorado. It is not uncommon to see rare birds here. Getting around 140 wind turbines within sight of the island, they fear, could have serious consequences. – We are worried, because we see how the bird migration goes over the island. We hope the authorities do a good job and check that the birds do not suffer any distress if they hit this wall with windmills, says board member of the Utsira bird station, Truls Wexhal Andersen. Board member of the Utsira bird station, Truls Wexhal Andersen. Photo: Thomas Ystrøm / news – They should not have decided that Utsira Nord should be located here before it had been properly investigated. Which areas are important for the birds, and which are less important, says board member Torborg Berge. Board member of the Utsira bird station, Torborg Berge. Photo: Åse Karin Hansen / news Takes a gamble and wants to build Another place on the island is making big plans for the future. Håvard Nordvik believes that the plans for offshore wind will give the island a boost, and he wants to be part of it. He is planning investments for NOK 200–300 million in housing and commercial buildings on his property. Drawings have already been made and an application has been made to build. – I just threw myself in to see if we can get something done, then we’ll see. I have picked up quite a bit in connection with the consortia that have visited, what they imagine they need. No homes or buildings have been sold yet, and that eats away at the savings. One million kroner has already been spent. Landowner Håvard Nordvik with the plans for what he thinks will be built on the property at Utsira. Photo: Åse Karin Hansen / news – I am quite sure that Utsira Nord will come. If some of the development lands on Utsira, the prices will be different and people will come out to see offshore wind. Mayor Marte Eide Klovning also still believes that Utsira Nord will become something, even if she sometimes doubts it. Because there are those who believe this should not be realized, published in Montel News, among others. – Both the energy minister and state secretary Astrid Bergvoll tell me that they are still working just as hard to get this in place. We are positive about this, and only want a small part. We want something left to house the world’s largest investment in floating offshore wind. Two wind turbines standing on land at Utsira. In the future, there may be far more in the sea outside. Photo: Åse Karin Hansen / news
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Utsira Nord taps Norway’s smallest municipality for money and resources – Rogaland
