High voltage master, Marit Loen | Neighbors of the high-voltage masts: – We are fantastically satisfied

(Budstikka) Marit Loen (70) today lives just under a huge electricity pylon, barely 20 meters from the house.

– It’s a great day, says Loen from Jølstad, where she and musician and partner Olav Stedje are still on Easter holiday.

On Tuesday, it became clear that the high-voltage line will disappear into the ground, instead of on 38-metre-high masts, as was initially expected.

The press release stated, among other things:

– The ministry attaches great importance to the fact that the area is one of Norway’s most densely built-up. Therefore, in practice, there are no other solutions that can mitigate the disadvantages that aerial cables bring with them.

Now it’s clear: Won’t become “monster master” through Bærum

– Fantastic

– It is absolutely fantastic, we are very pleased, there is really nothing more to say. We have a mast directly above our garden, so it should really only be missing in such a densely built-up area with schools and hospitals, so it’s good they came to their senses, says Loen.

She points out that people along the power grid can now finally use their properties, without thinking that they have to stay away from the high-voltage pylons.

– We are incredibly happy with it, she says.

Today there is a high-voltage mast about 20 meters from their house, on a hill by the garden.

– We may not be doing much with the plot now, but what is important to us is that others can use their plots, and that the masts go away in general. If the children take over, they can then build in the direction where the mast is now if they wish. They couldn’t have done that before, she says.

The most important thing for Loen and Stedje is just that the electricity pylons disappear in the first place.

– It is a constant period. When it rains, it sparkles noticeably. We also think there is a concern with the radiation, she told Budstikka in an earlier case.

The front line

Loen and Stedje were two of 359 home owners in Bærum who joined together in a complaint against Statnett’s plan for power grids in the air. NVE also gave Statnett a license to build a new power grid above ground.

In the eastern part of the stretch, from Haslum church, there are mostly private individuals who have affected properties. Budstikka has concluded that there are a total of 119 homes on the stretch. There are most detached houses (40), some semi-detached houses (30), some terraced houses (13), some apartments in detached houses (12) and a block of 24 small apartments.

A combined municipal council in Bærum, a large number of residents and high-strung neighbors led by the action group “No to monster masts in densely populated areas” have demanded that the new power supply be buried.

– After a thorough review of the case, I have come to the conclusion that the line should be built as a cable system in the ground. It will help to reduce the disadvantages for many people and free up scarce areas of great value, said Energy Minister Terje Aasland.

Loen and Stedje send a big thank you to everyone who has fought to get the high-voltage pylons away from residential areas.

– The people who have been at the forefront of the resistance group have made a formidable effort, and deserve a big thank you.

Frustrated at not being heard about monster masters

Worth the money

An underground power grid is a far more expensive alternative than the high-voltage pylons, which would cost around NOK 300 million. Now the price will end up at around NOK 1.2 billion.

– Of course it is more expensive, but on the other hand, the safety is much greater. It is well worth the money it costs if, for example, you look at maintenance over time, weather and wind. Then it is much easier with a cable in the ground, says Loen.

– And we couldn’t have had a mast like that where the one we have stands today. Then it would have been almost like having an aircraft tower by the garden. It is much better with cable, then we just have to pay more. Electricity is so expensive today anyway.

Demands access to analyzes about the “monster masts”