RANDERS: On Monday it became clear that the Randers city council will not proceed with the establishment of a large energy plant to be added to the wind turbines that already stand at Overgaard and Sødring. This is reported by TV2 Østjylland.
In the area of Overgaard and Sødring there are currently 10 wind turbines of 2.3 MW with a total height of 127 meters and 36 wind turbines of 3.6 MW with a total height of 150 meters. Wind Estate and Eurowind Energy, who were behind the project, wanted to expand with six new wind turbines at a height of 180 meters, replace the ten existing wind turbines at 127 meters with wind turbines at 180 meters and build approximately 850 hectares of solar cells, a battery plant, a Power-to-X plant and possibly a data center.
The development plans have met with great criticism through 133 consultation responses. And it is this criticism that is now responsible for the project being canceled. This is happening after 11 city council politicians voted in favor of stopping against 19 who voted against. Mayor Rosa Lykke Yde (SF) was one of those who voted against the project despite the party's otherwise green profile.
- I have to be honest and say that it was a difficult decision, but we have chosen to listen to the citizens, she says, referring to the 133 consultation responses and the signature collections.
She also believes that the citizens in the area are already contributing a lot to the green transition in the municipality. That is why she - and the rest of the SF in Randers - voted against moving forward with the project, which has been discussed since 2022.
What about the voters who voted for you because SF has the green transition as a key issue?
- We are still very concerned that we must achieve our local climate goals, but we also need to look at whether the projects that the developers come up with are good enough, she states.
Does not rule out other projects
A majority in the Social Democrats were among those who voted to continue studies and planning of the project - among others Christian Bach (S).
- We believe that it is part of the green transition, and that we as politicians must take care of the future, he says, emphasizing that they did not vote for the project definitively, but voted to look more closely at the project.
He believes that citizens' resistance should be acknowledged and listened to. However, this does not change the fact that society is facing a major challenge, he adds.
- We will and must expect that there are citizens who are concerned. It is difficult as a politician because we have to make difficult choices, and therefore it is important for all parties that we are seeking compromise, he explains.
Rosa Lykke Yde herself has helped to put this project in the grave, but she cannot rule out that another interesting project could land on her table. However, it must be a project that, at the same time as the green transition, will lift the area, she says.
- Imagine if projects could come in that could do both. I don't think it's completely inconceivable that we will look at it with goodwill, it says.
Developers do not understand rejection of project
Wind Estate and Eurowind Energy respond in a written response to TV2 Østjylland that they do not understand the decision.
- It is a really good project that can produce electricity for 120,000 households, and it will be difficult to find such an opportunity elsewhere in Randers Municipality, where it affects so few neighbors as at Overgaard, writes Wind Estate, among other things.
The company will now explore the possibility of a "customized project" with politicians and the local population, it further says.
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