– We are reacting to the proposal, says Espen Jacobsen in the interest organization Fiskebåt. They are strongly against the government’s proposal to restrict access to offshore wind matters. Jacobsen fears there may be developments that could harm the fish and displace the fishing fleet, if they are not given access to the applications. “Unreasonably labor-intensive” to provide access The application deadline for the offshore wind areas Utsira Nord and Sørlige Nordsjø II will soon expire. It is the first time there will be a competition for prequalification and allocation of project areas for offshore wind power. When all the applications and paper are on the table, interest organisations, the media and others will knock on the door and ask for access to the applications. But the ministry takes a dark view of this work. In the consultation note, they point out that “confidential information will probably make up the majority of the document, or that it will be unreasonably labor-intensive for the ministry to separate out the confidential information” The Ministry of Oil and Energy therefore proposes to change the regulations in the Public Relations Act. If this goes through, there will be no insight into matters concerning prequalification and allocation of project areas for offshore wind power. Espen Jacobsen in Fiskebåt, is critical and thinks the whole thing is special. – We are talking about an industry that can get subsidies in the billions range. Wind power is also of great public interest, and this is what the ministry itself is aware of when they write that they expect many requests for access. – Scary argument EnergiWatch editor Anders Lie Brenna reacts to the background to the fact that the government will drop transparency. – I think it is frightening to read the argument, he says to Journalisten. He points out that the government will spend NOK 23 billion on one offshore wind area, as well as an unknown number of billions on the next area. In total, there will be 10-12 applications for the area, and the sender will have to clear the boxes themselves. – If the ministry does not have the time and money to follow up transparency when billions of dollars are involved, one can wonder when they will be able to take the time and money, he says to Journalisten. The consultation round lasts until 13 October.
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Will not give access to offshore wind applications – news Vestland
