Keminmaa council to discuss wind power proposal amid local concerns

The Keminmaa municipal council is set to discuss its stance on wind power during a meeting on Thursday evening. Currently, there are no wind turbines located in the area. The municipal government proposes that the council approve the construction of wind turbines in principle, but with several conditions attached.

Among the proposed conditions is that wind turbines must be located at least 3 kilometers away from residential buildings and holiday homes, and a minimum of 4 kilometers from the Kemijoki River. Additionally, the maximum height of the turbines should not exceed 300 meters. Other stipulations include that wind turbines cannot be built in the Kivalo area or on groundwater zones, and the company preparing the project must compensate for the areas related to connecting transmission lines and roads as well as the land for the turbines themselves. The zoning proposal should include preliminary options for transmission lines, and the minimum distance from travel corridors must be 500 meters.

Plans are underway for over a hundred wind turbines in the municipality. Three wind companies have presented their proposed areas to local decision-makers. Fortum plans to build 27 turbines in Honkamaa and 57 in Kotapalo. Lumituuli is considering 7 to 11 turbines in Kivivara near the Penikoiden danger area, while VSB Uusiutuva Energia Suomi aims to establish 18 to 23 turbines east of the Taivalkoski power plant.

Some council members are resistant to the construction of wind power. Heli Trög, a councilor, argues that Meri-Lappi already has enough wind power and emphasizes that the Kemijoki is already harnessed for electricity production. She believes the municipality can afford to forgo wind power development, especially with upcoming revenues from a new mining tax.