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Wind Power News: Norway
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Sami activists set up camp outside Norway parliament to protest wind turbines
An Indigenous Sami activist set up camp outside the Norwegian parliament on Monday to protest against wind turbines built on land traditionally used by Sami reindeer herders, saying he will stay there as long as the turbines remain in place. Norway’s supreme court in October 2021 ruled that two wind farms built at Fosen in central Norway, part of Europe’s largest onshore wind farm, violated Sami rights under international conventions. But the turbines remain in operation today. The Fosen case . . . Complete story »
Transition to “clean energy” is hurting Indigenous communities
When Francisco Calí Tzay, the United Nations special rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous peoples, spoke at the 22nd United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, or UNPFII, last week, he listed clean energy projects as some of the most concerning threats to their rights. “I constantly receive information that Indigenous Peoples fear a new wave of green investments without recognition of their land tenure, management, and knowledge,” said Calí Tzay. His statements – and those made by other delegates – at . . . Complete story »
Norway’s largest wind farm violates Indigenous rights. Why won’t authorities take action?
In October 2021, Norway’s Supreme Court ruled that a wind farm built on the country’s central-west coast violated the protected cultural rights of the Indigenous Sámi by infringing on their reindeer grazing lands. On June 3, 2023, exactly 600 days after the ruling, the $1.3 billion Fosen wind farm was still operating. To mark the anniversary of the court’s decision, members of the Norwegian Sámi Association’s Youth Committee, known as NSR-N, demonstrated outside the Norwegian Parliament. On June 26, Motvind . . . Complete story »
Statnett stengte flyttlei – Full seier til Duokta reinbeitedistrikt i Hålogaland lagmannsrett
[Full victory for Duokta reindeer herding district – The Hålogaland Court of Appeal has issued a unanimous verdict that Statsnett’s license and expropriation are invalid.] Statnetts anlegg ved Straumvatnet i Sørfold kommune, innenfor Duokta reinbeitedistrikt i Nordland stengte reinbeitedistriktets flyttlei. Nå har Hålogaland lagmannsrett avsagt en enstemmig dom at Statsnett konsesjon og ekspropriasjon er ugyldige. Jusprofessor ved UiT Øyvind Ravna sier at resultatet var ganske overraskende. – Avgjørelsen er forankret i forvaltningsloven hvor lagmannsretten har kommet til at Statnett og NVE . . . Complete story »
In Norway, Indigenous Sami protest outside prime minister’s office against wind farm
Dozen of activists, including Indigenous Sami, protested Friday outside the office of Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, vowing to block entry to remind Norway’s government that they want a wind farm removed because they say it endangers the reindeer herders’ way of life. In February, the same human rights activists occupied the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy for four days, and later also blocked the entrances to 10 ministries. The Norwegian government then apologized for failing to act despite . . . Complete story »
Equinor pulls the plug on North Sea floating wind farm
Siri Espedal Kindem sees no way forward for Trollvind floating offshore wind farm. Equinor said today that it will postpone any further development of the Trollvind floating offshore wind farm initiative indefinitely. “This decision is based on several challenges facing the project, including technology availability, rising cost and a strained timetable to deliver on the original concept.” said the state-owned energy company. “The authorities have been informed about the decision.” Equinor had previously announced reduced activity on the project, citing . . . Complete story »
A transition to clean energy was supposed to be equitable. Instead, it’s hurting Indigenous communities.
When Francisco Calí Tzay, the United Nations special rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous peoples, spoke at the 22nd United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, or UNPFII, last week, he listed clean energy projects as some of the most concerning threats to their rights. “I constantly receive information that Indigenous Peoples fear a new wave of green investments without recognition of their land tenure, management, and knowledge,” said Calí Tzay. His statements – and those made by other delegates – at . . . Complete story »
In Oslo, young Sámi protesters demand the dismantling of two wind farms
Since February 23, a hundred young Sámi and climate activists belonging to the organization “Natur og Ungdom” (“Nature and Youth”) have been blocking the entrances to several ministries in Oslo. The demonstrators demand the dismantling of two wind farms, which the Norwegian Supreme Court ruled in October 2021, violated the rights of the last indigenous people in Europe. Every morning at 7, the young people take their position in traditional dress in front of the doors of the ministries. Every . . . Complete story »
Norway wind farms at heart of Sami protest violate human rights, minister says
Norway’s government apologised on Thursday to Indigenous Sami groups for the construction of wind turbines on reindeer pastures, calling it a “human rights violation”, while also urging a solution that still allows power production in the area. The apology by Minister of Petroleum and Energy Terje Aasland followed a week of protests by Sami activists, and others including environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg, that led to a growing crisis for the government. “I have apologised (today) on behalf of the government . . . Complete story »
Norway apologises for ‘illegal’ wind farms on indigenous land
Norway’s government on Thursday apologised to indigenous Sami reindeer herders affected by wind farms that were declared illegal after they were built, following a week of protests by activists. The country’s highest court unanimously ruled in October 2021 that the expropriation and operating permits issued for the construction of 151 turbines in the Fosen region of western Norway were invalid. The court found that the project violated the rights of Sami families to practise their culture of reindeer husbandry. However, . . . Complete story »
