Local ownership, jobs and economy for the local area. If this has been taken into account in a wind turbine or solar cell project, there is a good chance that the local population will support the project or at least not feel much opposition to it.

This is one of the experiences that Steffen Damsgaard draws on when he has to explain how they in Lemvig have succeeded in carrying out energy projects successfully. He is chairman of the Technical and Environmental Committee in the municipality, and earlier this year won Lemvig KL's climate award for, among other things, to have created local support for energy projects. At the conference 'When the citizens say yes to more clean energy in their local community' (held on 27 November in Pressen, Politikens Hus), he mentions some examples of projects that succeeded particularly well.

Solcellepark Høvsøre ​​was created when the local cooperative Jysk Energi, which is also behind the electricity grid in the area, proposed an energy park of 70 hectares of solar cells, where the population is a co-owner. Overall, 50 percent, i.e. 110 million kroner shares, bought at cost price by neighbors and locals in and around the town of Bøvlingbjerg in the first instance and then by the rest of the population in Lemvig Municipality. In addition, there is also finance that can be sought from Bøvlingbjerg and Fjaltring, which are the nearest villages, as well as from the nearest neighbours.

"Here it was absolutely crucial for the almost 500 inhabitants of the town of Bøvlingbjerg, and overall just under 900 in the whole parish, that you could get local ownership and that it was a solar plant where you could buy a share at cost price," he says .

A little further north, the world's largest production wind turbine at 270 meters – a 15 MW turbine – is to be erected right at the entrance to Thyborøn. And here, according to Steffen Damsgaard, there has not been a single negative consultation response in this regard.

"This is because it will be 100 percent owned by the local population in Thyborøn and the entire Lemvig Municipality. The shares are being sold, and the mill must be set up as soon as possible afterwards. In addition to the subsidy from the government's Green scheme, there will also be a financial subsidy for the local area, as well as shares that can subsequently be bought by people moving to the municipality. And that helps to reduce the resistance," he says. 

Solar cells, forest and wetlands

The third project he highlights is an area of ​​400 hectares where 275 hectares of solar cells are being established, fenced only with hedges and 100 hectares of new forest. Here they also create some small wetlands that lead out to a rare nutrient-poor lake, which benefits the environment and biodiversity. Finally, an extra path will be established, a lookout tower will be built in the area and some financial contribution will be made to the nearest small local community meeting houses.

"All those measures meant that there was not much opposition to the project. So it's about thinking several elements into consideration. Right now we are sitting and looking into a new series of applications for solar parks, which we have to deal with in the municipal council, and here we want the players to bid even more for the local area.”

According to Steffen Damsgaard, there is a great need to ensure that energy projects benefit the local area. Therefore, Lemvig Municipality works together with the neighboring municipalities for a larger financial contribution in the form of a compensation and development contribution. In addition to his job in Lemvig Municipality, Steffen Damsgaard is also chairman of the Landdistrikters Fællesråd.

"There must be the possibility of a larger bonus scheme for the nearest neighbours. The next thing is that there must be finances for the nearest local communities and also for the municipality. The Council of Rural Districts believes that approximately ten percent of the production value should go to these three areas: the nearest neighbours, the nearest local communities and the municipalities. At the same time, we miss the government being more ambitious in relation to supporting the places where local ownership and citizen energy communities are to be created," he says and continues:

"And then it is also important that, if there are plans to remove housing in the open country to make room for wind turbines, solar cells, PTX systems, transformer stations and high-voltage masts, you can build housing elsewhere in the open country . It is important so that we do not end up with fewer houses and thus fewer people to support the local grocery store, day care center and school.”

Bias can have consequences

All in all, there is a need for the energy plants to help create new development in the local area. He would like to see the government's Green Scheme instead turn into an annual contribution every single year for the entire lifetime of the energy plant. He fears that too much bias between who makes money from the energy projects and the local communities that have them in their backyard could have major consequences.

"In Lemvig Municipality, the companies that want to develop the energy plants offer the landowners 20-25.000 kroner per hectare annually for the entire lifetime of the solar plant. After all, it is up to 4-5 times the market rent every single year. Energy developers also need to work to create support in the local population, so that we do not get the yellow vests around the whole country (referring to earlier uprisings in France). If you just want to plow this down on the local population, there will be huge resistance," he says.

The problem is that there is a lack of a better framework for all parties concerned. Therefore, the municipalities are getting creative about what they want to emphasize when they have to select which energy projects must be established.

"We can, as in Lemvig municipality, tell the energy developers that they must ensure that there is no local opposition. Because otherwise it is not attractive enough to have more energy plants. We don't want to have to get into a huge resistance and fight against the local population, so we'd rather refrain from giving permission for more energy plants.”

This article is part of our project 'Yes in my backyard', where we focus on how people help drive the green transition in their local communities.

Good advice from Steffen Damsgaard:

• Support for the nearest neighbours, the nearest local communities and the municipalities  
• Support projects with local ownership and citizen energy communities 
• Creates housing elsewhere if you remove someone to make room for wind turbines and solar cells  
• Instead of a lump sum, the Green Scheme must be an annual, recurring contribution throughout the life of the energy plant 
• Clear framework where the energy developers must also work to create support in the local population