Published: Less than 30 min ago
The wind farm in Stockholm’s archipelago would be Sweden’s largest – but the Swedish Armed Forces say no, citing national security.
Now the Center Party demands that the government act so that construction can begin.
– We have an energy emergency, says Martin Ådahl (C).
The planned park will consist of around 300 wind turbines, up to 330 meters high, and will be located in the Baltic Sea outside Stockholm. The electricity produced would be enough to supply all of Stockholm with energy, but the Swedish Armed Forces says no.
The justification is that the wind power plants would constitute “tangible damage to the national interest for the military part of total defence”. What this means is covered by secrecy with reference to national security.
The government passive
Now Martin Ådahl (C), Member of Parliament from Stockholm, demands that the government see to it that the building is finished.
– The ball is in the government’s court. The government must appoint a crisis commission the day after the election that shortens the permit processes from today’s seven or eight years to a maximum of two years, says Ådahl.
He also believes that the government must ensure that the Armed Forces do not block wind farms on an assembly line.
Defense doesn’t think this is compatible with our security, shouldn’t we listen to it?
– There must be an explanation for that in that case, in the answer there is no information about what the problem is. If these big projects are blocked because you only have an on or off mode, then you have to find ways around it. The government has been very passive and let the authorities figure it out themselves.
Not the government that stops it
Energy Minister Khashayar Farmanbar is surprised by Martin Ådahl’s criticism and points out that the government has done a lot to facilitate offshore wind power construction.
– I agree with Martin Ådahl, but it is not the government that is stopping it. It is the cooperation parties of his own party friends in the Stockholm region. The moderates say no, citing that the park can be seen as a mirage from Sandhamn, says Farmabar.
Can the government do anything about the Armed Forces blocking the construction?
– Yes, my party the Social Democrats have presented a general plan for electricity production. In it, we point out that the county administrative board should be a gathering forum that calls in the Armed Forces and other authorities to be able to find a way forward in this type of case.
The company behind the wind farm is called Njordr Offshore Wind. According to the plan, the park is to be located 10 miles east of Stockholm and 5.5 miles east of Sandhamn. Project manager Niclas Erkenstål has previously spoken Today’s industry that he hopes for a green light for the project.
– We are continuing the planning and work to produce a complete permit application to the government. And we hope through, among other things, a dialogue with the Armed Forces to find a good solution that will enable us to realize this park, which would be a valuable addition to the strained electricity supply in both Stockholm County and southern Sweden, he told the newspaper this summer.