BORNHOLM: A biogas plant that can be smelled from a long distance, wind turbines that make noise, and solar cells that cover otherwise green fields. That is what is needed to achieve Denmark's climate goals, but who should have them in their backyard, and how do we get citizens to say yes to having them as neighbors?
It is up for debate at this year's Folkemøde, where key players have met to come up with aspects of how to gain support from the population and thus take a step closer to the country's goals.
Odder's mayor Lone Jakobi (S) has, since she took office in January 2022, been involved in the process of a potential biogas plant in the municipality.
- We need more time to involve citizens in the first part of the process, so that they can help shape what our climate solutions will look like, she says and elaborates:
- It is central to getting citizens to support the solutions that we include them and have time to consider their input.
Resistance and insecurity
Lone Jakobi explains that the plans for the biogas plant have met with great resistance from the local population. This has created insecurity for the citizens, that they have not been aware of the potential limitations and opportunities of it, and according to her the same applies to the politicians.
Here she points out that lack of knowledge can be an obstacle, and that politicians should not aim to gain technical expert knowledge, but instead be open to input, both from citizens and also professionals in the industry.
This is supported by Brian Vad Mathiesen, who is a professor of energy planning at Aalborg University. According to him, for example, one could introduce that all municipalities must have one to two dedicated employees who focus exclusively on a strategic plan for the municipalities' climate solutions.
In addition, he emphasizes that the municipalities are already far ahead, and that it is misinterpreted when the focus becomes too much about us only now getting started.
- We are already really far ahead, so maybe it doesn't have to be about so many new backyards, but that the energy plants can change their character. Here we need to investigate the potential for "multi-purpose", for example whether it is worthwhile to cover all our roofs with solar cells, he says, explaining that in this way we can utilize the space that is already in use.
More knowledge sharing
Brian Vad Mathiesen emphasizes that there is a need for a greater degree of knowledge sharing across the municipalities, so that they can supplement each other's climate plans to a greater extent in order to use resources in the best possible way.
In addition, he points to structural problems with the schemes that the municipalities work on today.
- Instead of compensating for inconvenience, we should reward effort to a greater extent, he says.
In Odder Municipality, despite the great opposition from the local population regarding the biogas plant plans, there is a focus on involving the citizens.
- If the citizens are to be happy with the solution that ends up being established, then I believe that it is central that they have been part of the decision-making process. And I believe that if we strengthen citizen involvement, we can get everyone to think more about the larger municipal community, says the mayor.
In September, it is expected to be clarified whether Odder Municipality will have a biogas plant in the future.
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