October 18, 2006
Denmark
Denmark
The country’s pioneering role in wind energy is threatened unless local governments ease building codes, warns the minister of the environment.
Strict zoning codes have virtually halted the construction of new wind turbines in Denmark, according to Marianne Bender, the chairperson of the Organisation for Sustainable Energy.
While 748 turbines were put into operation in 2000, that number fell to a mere 6 in 2006.
‘Protests from citizens and lobby organisations have hindered the building of wind turbines many places in the country,’ she told daily newspaper Nyhedsavisen. ‘At the same time, one of the government’s first actions was to remove subsidies so turbines had to compete on market conditions.’
The country’s position as a leader in wind technology is now threatened unless local governments ease building restrictions, warned the minister of the environment, Connie Hedegaard.
‘We cannot continue to be the world’s leader in wind technology if we do not make room for turbines in our own country. Municipalities have a huge responsibility to ensure that the development of wind turbines succeeds locally,’ she said.
In a slightly hidden admonishment, Hedegaard told business journal Idag that a national directive could be instituted if local governments failed to ease codes on their own.
Wind turbines provided Denmark with 18.5 percent of its electricity last year.
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2006/10/18/wind-turbines-not-in-my-backyard/