Protests Force Norway to Scrap Wind Project

Public opposition has forced the Norwegian government to scrap plans for large-scale onshore wind power development, Recharge News, the world’s leading provider of business intelligence for the renewable-energy industries, reported.
The outlet quoted a statement from the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate as saying that the plan received 5,000 responses from the public and most of these “were critics from individuals who did not want wind power in their municipality”.
The plan that sparked these responses envisaged the designation of 13 areas in which wind farms were to be built. Now, the plan will be dropped and the government will instead focus on tightening the licensing regime for new wind projects, environmental assessment rules and rules regarding construction deadlines.
Norway currently has wind power capacity of 1.7 GW with another 1.8 GW under construction amid falling costs that have spurred a major investment wave in the segment.
The government announced the 13 areas earlier this year, out of 43.
“These areas are pointed out by weighing production conditions and network capacity against the effects on the environment and society,” the Water Resources and Energy Directorate said at the time.