NVE public meeting about the Garbergelva River in Selbu

Clemens Kraft has notified NVE of its plans for a power plant on the Garbergelva River in Selbu. This is the beginning of a demanding process. Before the actual licence application can be submitted, much must be investigated and mapped out – but what?

This time, NVE organized a public meeting about the project. NVE case officer Marianne Angård emphasized that this is not the time to discuss the arguments for and against the power plant. This is because no one can weigh the positive and negative consequences against each other before thorough investigations have been carried out. For the investigations to provide the best possible answers, it is important that the local population, those who know the area best, contribute their knowledge and concerns. 

Topics discussed included whether a development would affect ice conditions in the river, whether insects could be affected and consequently the large trout that feed on them, and whether reduced water flow would mean that the river would no longer serve as a natural barrier for grazing areas. What types of soil and rock are present, and could unwanted mineral leaching occur from deposited materials? Could the electricity be used locally, for example in the industrial area at Granby? All input received by NVE will be considered for inclusion in the requirements for the mapping work.

The deadline for submitting input on what needs to be mapped is 13 March. All input will be included in NVE’s assessments of which requirements should be set for mapping in and around the Garbergelva River. The mapping itself will be carried out by a third party, in this case the consultancy company Sweco. 

Marianne Angård from NVE explained the entire licence application process and then handed over to Mattias Kullberg, Development Director at Clemens Kraft, who explained where the development is planned and what measures are intended to minimize the impact on nature in the surrounding area.

All developments affect nature and have both negative and positive consequences. Once all mapping has been completed and all aspects of the project have been examined, NVE’s task is to weigh the positive and negative effects against each other and, on that basis, determine whether the project provides a benefit to society. 

Click on the image below to view Mattias Kullberg’s presentation: