Council approves research mast for potential wind power plant at Grjótháls in Borgarbyggð

The local council of Borgarbyggð has granted permission for the controversial construction of a research mast, which will reach nearly 100 meters high at Grjótháls. The company Hrjónum aims to evaluate the potential for establishing a wind power plant in the area. This initiative has sparked significant debate within the community.

The council’s vote reflected a divide, with three members of the majority Progressive Party supporting the proposal and two opposing it. Representatives from the Independence Party and the A-list coalition voted in favor, while a member from the Left-Green Movement voted against.

Guðveig Lind Eyglóardóttir, the council chair and head of the Progressive Party, clarified that the decision solely pertains to granting the landowner research rights on their own property. “This does not indicate a stance on future wind turbine development. It’s simply a standalone issue,” she emphasized.

Despite the mixed voting outcome among Progressive Party members, Guðveig asserted that it does not impact the party’s majority stance. She noted that this decision process involved open discussion, allowing each member to vote according to their views.

Independence Party representatives noted that the current decision strictly concerns the research permit, ensuring that the landowner can conducted studies on their property, with provisions to dismantle the mast at the end of the research period. However, they expressed skepticism about the compatibility of the planned wind power plant with government policy being developed in Parliament.

The Left-Green representative cited environmental concerns and adherence to local planning permissions as reasons for opposing the permit, highlighting that Grjótháls is situated in a sensitive area within Borgarfjörður.