Revised national budget, Wind power | The government takes action on wind power: Gives millions to nature and the Sami

When the government presents proposals for a revised national budget on Tuesday, there will be a completely new type of compensation scheme for wind power.

– It is because we need to develop more renewable energy. We understand that this has a nature burden, either in the form of those who have nature-based livelihoods in connection with the wind power areas, or someone who wants to restore some nature elsewhere, says Energy Minister Terje Aasland (Ap) to Nettavisen.

More production, more money

0.1 øre per kWh produced for nature and outdoor recreation purposes will be set aside, as well as 0.1 øre for reindeer herding “where wind power has negative consequences for reindeer herding”. In municipalities without reindeer husbandry, 0.2 øre must go to nature purposes.

This will be not an additional tax for wind power producers. Instead, the state will use part of the income from the ground rent tax that was introduced from New Year.

Already this year, it will provide 15 million for nature and outdoor recreation purposes, and 10 million for reindeer husbandry.

– We believe this is a very good scheme that builds on what has been the need, and which can remedy the situation somewhat when it comes to entering into wind power projects, says Aasland.

The fact that these two purposes have been chosen is linked to the fact that consideration for nature is by far the most important reason why Norwegians are opposed to wind power.

Sami interests’ conflict with wind power was brought to the fore in the Fosen case, and may stand in the way of development in northern Norway.

– Thus, overall, 2.5 øre per kWh is set aside from wind power: 2.3 øre goes directly to the municipalities, and 0.2 øre goes to these nature-based purposes.

Neighboring municipalities can also receive money

Climate and Environment Minister Andreas Bjelland Eriksen (Ap) has clear ideas about how the natural money should be used:

– With these 15 million, a subsidy scheme will be established in the municipalities where land-based wind power is located, or for municipalities where outdoor interests or nature are negatively affected by land-based wind that is located in neighboring municipalities, says Bjelland Eriksen.

– Subsidies can be given to reduce the impact on nature of the development that has taken place, for example by re-laying paths or ensuring that the development does not have the same type of negative impact on outdoor activities, he says.

Bjelland-Eriksen says it’s about both taking the nature and climate crisis seriously.

– Renewable energy is absolutely essential if we are to achieve our climate goals, the business policy goals – and in addition ensure that people have a low electricity bill in the future. But then it is important to provide measures that reduce the burden as much as possible.

At the same time, he points out that they have “learned an enormous amount” about how to expand wind power in a more gentle way in recent years.

– This means that you have a different approach in the project design itself, and it helps to reduce the burdens.

– Should have reindeer husbandry and the possibility of developing wind power

Agriculture and Food Minister Geir Pollestad (Sp) is concerned that reindeer husbandry and wind power can coexist.

– This is compensation for the inconvenience caused by wind power, and comes in addition to a number of other measures. It is important that the value creation accrues to those who are directly affected, says Pollestad.

He does not believe that this alone will solve the resistance of the reindeer herding Sami:

– I think this will make a positive contribution, and then it is the case that reindeer herding is concerned with working on several things, both this with compensation, and other things such as the reindeer herding agreement and raw game pressure. So this is part of a larger package that will enable us to manage both reindeer husbandry and the possibility of developing wind power.

Is it enough?

The big question is whether 0.2 øre is sufficient.

– I can never state that it is enough, but this is a large amount of money when you take it in total, which goes to important local purposes. We have stepped up the return of the value creation that the wind power plants provide considerably, both to the municipalities with 2.3 øre and now 0.2 øre for nature, outdoor life and reindeer herding, says Energy Minister Aasland.

Overall, it is quite a big change from before, where the wind power municipalities mostly only had income from property tax.

– This is a recognition of the local communities who stand up and take responsibility for us being able to create new opportunities, establish industry, business, cut greenhouse gas emissions and ensure that we bring down electricity prices: They must get something back, concludes Aasland.