The government steers Northern Norway towards a power deficit. With AP and Sp in government, northerners risk a doubling of electricity prices in the coming years. Since Støre took over, they have only given permission for 0.3 TWh of new energy, in stark contrast to the 16 TWh the Solberg government secured the eight years before. Without the necessary access to power, Northern Norway misses out on long-awaited growth and jobs in our part of the country. Therefore, the government must speed up the establishment of new power generation.
We already see that investment in new power is concentrated in the south, and thus we are in danger of Northern Norway being left behind in development. At the latest earlier this year, the government voted down the Conservative Party’s proposal to announce offshore wind in Northern Norway. This leads to new establishments and economic development taking place in the south, and our part of the country is left with the economic and social consequences of a power deficit. We cannot risk that.
A proper commitment to development in our part of the country requires a clear strategy and a steady political course. Fortunately, politics is a renewable resource, and the Conservative Party is ready to rig energy policy for a new era. The right in the north demands that production in northern Norway must be increased by at least 50 per cent by 2030. And realize a real boost for our part of the country.
Specifically, we want the development of new wind power on land and at sea, new and upgrading of existing hydropower plants and we want to do more research on nuclear power.
Until now, we feel that our municipalities are ready, but are being held back by a slow government. The Conservative Party believes it is time to cut the bureaucracy and give the green light for faster development of power.
This is how Høyre i Nord believes that the region can be developed in line with demand and ensure growth in the years to come.
