Dan Enkelund shows around the area near Vosnær, where three wind turbines may be built on land belonging to the Municipality of Aarhus. He himself lives in the Municipality of Syddjurs - less than a kilometer from the site - and he is among the many citizens in the neighboring municipality who are critical of the project.
- The first wind turbine will be built right here, just over 100 meters from the road, he says, pointing in the direction of the field owned by Vosnæs Gods.
A review that TV2 Østjylland has made of 65 consultation responses shows that at least one in three comes from citizens in the neighboring municipality of Syddjurs. Quite logical, believes the mayor of Syddjurs.
- For the simple reason that it is our citizens who are affected, says mayor Michael Stegger Jensen (S).
There are only about 600 meters from the intended location to the municipal border. Right now, a joint city council in Syddjurs Municipality is working on a consultation response, in which they want a total stop to the wind turbines.
- Our citizens cannot vote because it is taking place in Aarhus Municipality. They need to have someone who speaks for them. There is an association against the wind turbines, which is doing well, but our citizens also need a political voice in the matter, says Michael Stegger Jensen.
Aarhus councillor understands dissatisfaction
In Aarhus Municipality, the conservative councillor for technology and environment, Nicolaj Bang, understands well that there are citizens on the other side of the municipal sign who express skepticism.
- It is a process that has been underway for a long time, and which we must also admit has not been optimal, says Nicolaj Bang.
Question: What has not been optimal?
- The process was probably born at a time when we were a little less interested in citizen involvement than we are today. This means that some decisions were made quite early on, before there was any sensible citizen involvement.
The local plan for the three wind turbines is now in public consultation. They are set to be 150 meters high - taller than Lighthouse at 142 meters - and together they should be able to supply electricity to 9,500 households a year.
The plans have been underway for many years. They have also been cemented in Aarhus Municipality's climate agreement, where the goal is to become climate neutral by 2030.
Most parties except the Danish Democrats and Henrik Arens from the Liberal Alliance are behind the agreement. However, the Liberal Party has said that they are against the wind turbines at Vosnæs.
The hearing on the local plan is currently underway, and on Thursday evening there will be a citizens' meeting, where everyone within a radius of 10 kilometers from the wind turbines has received an invitation. The first location at Skæring Skole, which had space for 250 people, quickly sold out. Now it has moved to Vejlby-Risskov Hallerne with space for 600.
Here come some of the citizens from Syddjurs Municipality who have made consultation responses and even more of those who are working on a consultation response.
Association: Wind turbines only make a small climate difference
Dan Enkelund is both a neighbor to the project and chairman of the Association against wind turbines at Vosnæs. He also understands why there are citizens from his municipality who are eager to make their opinion known.
- The area is completely unsuitable for wind turbines, and it is the citizens of Syddjurs Municipality who experience the greatest impact, he says.
All consultation responses from the citizens of Syddjurs Municipality say no to the wind turbines just on the other side of the municipal border.
Some are quite concise with a few words such as 'We want our protected beautiful spot in peace', while other responses are several pages long.
For the mayor of Syddjurs, it is not in principle a question of which side of the municipal border the wind turbines are planned on.
- It is not a question of whether it is in our municipality or not, it is a question of the fact that it is wrong to do so, and that is why we are also quite clear. This sends a signal that we agree with the city council in Syddjurs, says Michael Stegger Jensen (S).
The Association against Wind Turbines at Vosnæs is also submitting a response to the consultation.
- I think that Aarhus Municipality has a really good ambition to become climate neutral, and the climate plan is really good, but this project is irrelevant in terms of achieving the climate goals, says chairman Dan Enkelund.
Aarhus Municipality states that the wind turbines will supply approximately three percent of Aarhus Municipality's total energy consumption. The association has made calculations where they estimate that it is closer to one percent.
- Therefore, it does not measure up at all to the consequences it has for natural values, wildlife and the whole of Syddjurs. Therefore, proportionality is not consistent.
At the same time, he feels powerless because, as a citizen of the neighboring municipality, he cannot show his dissatisfaction at the ballot box when there are municipal elections in November.
- It is smart to place the wind turbines right at the municipal border, because where they have the greatest impact, there is no voting right, says Dan Enkelund.
Location is not a tactical choice
Conservative councilor Nicolaj Bang denies that the location close to the municipal border was chosen for tactical reasons.
- For me, citizens are citizens. Our view of Aarhus is that even though we have a municipal boundary, a large portion of the people who are oriented towards Aarhus and work here live in neighboring municipalities, he says.
Question: Even though the wind turbines are part of a larger goal of climate neutrality, why not pull them out and get rid of all the trouble with the neighbors in Syddjurs?
- If you are going to remove something, all the settlement partners must agree. I hear that there is quite a bit of appetite for that among many of the other parties.
Question: What does that mean?
- There are some parties that have strong opinions about the number of wind turbines and where they should be located. We in the Conservatives are part of the settlement and are committed to the whole thing, but I can see that when you are a neighbor to the project, it is difficult to see that you have to pay so much to the community when you can't feel that it really makes a difference, says Conservative councilor Nicolaj Bang.
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