After a years-long permit process and legal challenges, the Land and Environment Court of Appeal (MÖD) has finally given the green light for Vattenfall's wind farm i Stormyrberget in Örnsköldsvik municipality.
- "This judgment is crucial for the continued expansion of renewable wind energy in northern Sweden. MÖD strikes a reasonable balance in the difficult issues, and this will benefit the industry," says Ecogain's Anders Enetjärn, who was Vattenfall's consultant in the project.
On Friday, the Land and Environment Court of Appeal (MÖD) made its decision in the wind power casespark on Stormyrberget in Örnsköldsvik municipality. After a comprehensive review of the environmental impact assessment, the court writes that there is no reason to question the previous approval from the Land and Environment Court, and thus grants Vattenfall an environmental permit for wind powersthe park.
The Sami village's interests regarding reindeer husbandry have been taken into account, but MÖD considers that the wind farm does not make reindeer husbandry impossible at the site.
- In its reasons for judgment, MÖD makes well-reasoned considerations about how reindeer husbandry may be affected by Stormyrberget in the long term, but also draws the clear conclusion that the intervention will not entail a significant aggravation for reindeer husbandry, says Anders Enetjärn.
Manual for reindeer husbandry investigations as basis for the judgment
The judgment is also clear on how reindeer husbandry should be described in an EIA and states that the interests of reindeer husbandry are sufficiently described.
- It is fantastic to note that the new methods for reindeer husbandry investigations developed by Ecogain, and shared in the Swedish Wind Energy Association's new method manual, can now form the basis for a clear decision in the MÖD.
The Land and Environment Court of Appeal added two new conditions to the permit: an obligation for Vattenfall to shut down the wind turbines during certain periods and a condition on a collection pen.
The judgment cannot be appealed and is therefore final.
Facts about the Stormyrberget wine power project
The Stormyrberget wind power project is estimated to produce 800 GWh annually, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of 333,000 cars, or 7% of the country's cars will be able to run on electricity.
Read more about the Stormyrberget project and the judgment on Vattenfall's website.
