Norway to build wind farm despite UN calls to suspend project over concerns of impact on indigenous herders’ livelihoods
"Norway to build wind farm despite concerns of reindeer herders", 21 December 2018
Norway said [...] it would build a wind park in an area used for reindeer grazing despite U.N. calls to suspend the project to study the impact on the indigenous herders’ livelihoods.
The Petroleum and Energy Ministry said it would proceed with the [...] wind park, which is part of Europe’s largest onshore wind power project being developed by the Fosen Vind consortium...
“After careful consideration, the ministry has concluded that there is no basis for stopping the (building) of the Storheia wind turbines,” the ministry said...
In a Dec. 10 letter, the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination asked Norway to suspend the project so it could examine a complaint that the project would disturb reindeer herding, a traditional activity of the Sami people.
Reindeer herders have said the sight and sound of the turbines in the park, to be built in an area on Norway’s northwest coast used as pastures during winter months, could frighten the animals.
The ministry said Norway tried to address U.N. requests but would disregard it on this occasion after the wind farm had passed all domestic legal checks... [refers to TroenderEnergi, Statkraft and Nordic Wind Power]