Grane and Vefsn municipalities have approved Nordic Wind’s planning initiatives for Eiteråfjellet and Toven wind farms. Together, the projects could add up to 560 MW of new renewable power in Helgeland.
In early November, two municipal councils in Nordland, Northern Norway, gave the green light for Nordic Wind’s wind projects to move into the assessment phase:
The approvals let Nordic Wind propose a planning and impact assessment programme together with NVE and the two municipalities. This will be followed by about two years of studies before an area zoning plan and a licence application can be submitted.
“We are very pleased that the municipalities are taking the initiative to get the information they need to make well-informed decisions later in the process. It shows a real interest in understanding what these opportunities may mean,” says Øyvind Nes, Nordic Wind. “We look forward to exploring the potential and the wider economic and societal impacts together, and how this can be done in harmony with both nature and the local business community.”
Knowledge that benefits the whole community
The assessments will build a shared knowledge base on access roads, drinking water, biodiversity and the combined effects on reindeer husbandry. This is useful for the wind projects, and also for the municipalities’ own land-use planning. In Vefsn, the property surveying Nordic Wind carried out early on has already created value for the municipality and the landowners.
Jobs and new industry in Helgeland
Helgeland is the largest industrial region in Northern Norway, and many companies are waiting for power and grid capacity. If the projects are built, they will give the municipalities annual income from production fees and taxes, and landowners will receive lease income. The projects can also help bring new businesses and jobs to rural communities that are working to keep their populations. Nordic Wind works with the municipalities, Linea, Statnett and industrial players that want to share infrastructure costs.
Next steps
This winter, Nordic Wind will send NVE a notification with a proposed assessment programme, followed by public consultation. Fieldwork is planned to start around summer 2027 and run over two snow-free seasons. Landowner interests, other land users and a cooperation agreement with reindeer husbandry will be key priorities. Nordic Wind keeps an office in the municipal centre and is open to anyone who wants to stop by for a conversation.
