There are windy and ideal conditions for wind turbines in Thy. And while there is widespread opposition to land-based wind turbines in other places in the country, this is not the case in Thisted Municipality.
- Test Center Østerild attracts 50,000 visitors every year. Now they are looking into whether the visitor center should be made more dynamic, says Ulla Vestergaard (S), mayor of Thisted Municipality.
This could, for example, be done by having a cafe in connection with the visitor center. She also does not experience that there is opposition to wind turbines either in general in the municipality or in the test center.
- I hear no complaints about wind turbines. There have been problems with the light masts at each end of the test center, which give warning signals with flashing lights, because they flashed all the time. After they were set to only flash when planes were approaching, there has been peace, says Ulla Vestergaard.
But while the test center is now a success, it hasn't always been like this.
- There were many challenges in the beginning, but now it has become a tourist attraction. The center attracts attention that you don't immediately notice at first, says the mayor.
And it is even a tourist attraction, where there will be more and taller wind turbines in the future.
- Now it is being expanded from seven to nine places, and the turbines will go from a maximum height of 250 to 330 meters, she says.
The entire infrastructure has already been laid out for the wind turbine blades to arrive at Hanstholm Port and be driven the 20 km to Østerild.
- We have already expanded the roundabouts so that the long blades can get through, and we are ready to build them even bigger, says Ulla Vestergaard.
Climate tourism and the 2030 goals
However, the test center is not the only one attracting attention with green climate awareness.
- Thy has now been nominated for an EU award as one of the most sustainable tourist destinations in Europe, says the mayor.
This is the "EU climate tourist destination" award - where the municipality is one of three nominees.
The mayor is proud of this, but climate action is not expected because the government's 2030 climate goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 70 percent. has been taken seriously in Thisted Municipality.
- Together with agriculture, fisheries, utility companies, and the Confederation of Danish Industry, Thisted Municipality will achieve our 2030 goals, she says.
New wind turbines on land
While offshore wind farms are seen as almost the only wind turbines for many in the future, the mayor does not rule out new land-based turbines.
- We need to have fewer, but more efficient turbines in the future. We have the wind here, and I highly doubt that new offshore wind farms will be built here before 2030, says Ulla Vestergaard.
Here, the fact that there is no opposition to wind turbines in the municipality also plays a role. The mayor is very aware that there is a difference in how close you live to the turbines.
- I can easily be in favor when I live in the city and not out in the countryside close to the turbines, she says.
When it comes to the ownership of any future turbines, she also has a clear position.
- If we are going to keep the turbines standing, it makes good sense that we own them ourselves. It is better than if investors skim the cream, says Ulla Vestergaard.
She imagines that the turbines in the municipality could be owned by, for example, Thy Mors Energi. That way, ownership would be in local hands.
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