The government briefs us on wind power

ENERGY

The Sweden Democrats are dissatisfied with the government’s wind power decision.
– The government is trying to bypass us in matters related to wind power, says SD’s economic policy spokesperson Tobias Andersson.

He emphasizes that SD is not as “naively positive” about wind power as the government’s ministers. Andersson sees problems with connecting more weather-dependent production to the electricity grid, without supporting it with above all more nuclear power.

– We don’t think that can be done right now, because the government is focusing on wind power instead of nuclear power, he says.

Andersson is also dissatisfied that the government has not coordinated with SD before the decisions to say yes to the two offshore wind farms. He states that SD only received information about today’s press conference last night, but no information about the content of the press conference.

“We have a problem”

According to Andersson, the government has on three occasions failed to coordinate or to inform SD before decisions on wind power issues.

– There we have problems that I have raised with the state secretary and committee colleagues and that our coordinator has raised in the coordination, but where we have obviously not been heard, he says.

– The reasonable thing is that this can be taken up at party leader level now.

Andersson believes that many of the government’s voters in the affected areas on the west coast are also irritated.

– If you live there, you are probably not exclusively positive about more electricity, but then you also have other opinions about this, he says.

Read more: Birds can control wind turbines – the project is ready for sharp tests

Andersson points out that environmental values ​​at sea, cultural values ​​along coastal strips and property prices are at risk of being affected. He adds that there are also security policy aspects to becoming dependent on sea-based electricity production.

– It is significantly more difficult to defend in a difficult security policy situation, says Andersson.

Do you think the government should have said no to the two wind farms?

– It is very difficult to answer when you have not been involved in the process, says Andersson.

Climate and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari (L) does not think that the government needs to coordinate the wind power permits with SD.

– The entire government follows the Tidö agreement, it clearly states that there is no cooperation in terms of permit processes, she says to GP.

MP wants to see more wind power

The Green Party welcomes the government’s yes to the wind farms.

– This is a positive step, but more is needed, says spokesperson Per Bolund.

Does today’s announcement show that the government has changed its mind when it comes to wind power?

– They spent a lot of energy talking down wind power in the election campaign, says Bolund. It’s good to have a change of heart, but a decision like this is not proof that you’ve changed your mind.

Read more: Ebba Busch: More wind power requires more nuclear power

The Social Democrats’ energy policy spokesperson Fredrik Olovsson also welcomes the government’s announcement. However, he wants the government to also quickly make a decision on the other applications that are awaiting notification. And that the conditions for wind power improve.

– That is probably the big question now, whether these permits will also become investments. There you can still be worried that politics is going in the wrong direction, says Olovsson.

He wants the state-owned Swedish power grid to build main grids for electricity production also in the sea, instead of the owners of the wind farms being responsible for their connection.

– In the Tidö agreement, it has been announced that this possibility will be removed.