New political agreement on wind turbines and solar cells on land contains good intentions, and several initiatives point in the right direction, says KL. However, the agreement does not contain enough compensation for neighbors and local communities, and municipalities are still left in uncertainty about the process for the energy parks.
Central to today's agreement on energy parks is that the parties will establish a number of large energy parks on land with solar cells and wind turbines.
In KL, chairwoman of the Climate and Environment Committee, Birgit S. Hansen (S), welcomes the new agreement:
- However, it is also an agreement that has been long overdue, and therefore there is now a great need for us as a society to get into work clothes as soon as possible. Because if we are to reach the goal of the green transition, we are, to put it mildly, really busy.
Local compensation not big enough
The agreement also includes several initiatives that will give neighbors and local communities a greater share of the gains. For example, the green pool will be increased by 150 percent. for the benefit of local communities, and the renewable energy bonus for neighbors will be increased by 50 percent.
According to Birgit S. Hansen, however, much more is needed:
- Local support is simply the most important thing if we are to install more wind turbines and solar cells at a damn speed, and it is only fair that citizens and local communities receive fair compensation when they have to contribute land, neighborhood, eyes and ears. The extra compensation included in the agreement may sound like a lot, but we are out for absolutely nothing when we look at the enormous scale of these projects. It should and could be much more – otherwise we simply risk that neighbors and local communities will not support it.
Uncertainty about energy parks
As part of the agreement, the parties to the agreement have also designated a number of areas for energy parks. Municipalities with other areas can apply to get an energy park in 2024-2025. The process for the energy parks is still unclear, however, and this frustrates Birgit S. Hansen:
- In the industry and the municipalities, we have now been left with uncertainty about the energy parks for a year and a half, and this has put a lot of other green initiatives on hold. It is therefore also unfortunate that it is still unclear how the energy parks will finally be designated, and whether it will be Christiansborg or the municipalities that decide when the state will get involved in the local projects, she says and continues:
- It is our clear expectation that a state commitment will only come at the request of the individual municipality. It is crucial for local support that the energy parks are not forced on anyone, but instead – in the Minister for Climate Change's own words – become such a good offer that the local people themselves choose them. It should be the individual municipalities and local communities that have the hand on the helm and decide whether they want an energy park or not.
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