Finland aims to boost wind power by leasing more state land for construction
The Marin cabinet has a new policy for state lands, in line with its climate target of a carbon-neutral Finland by 2035.
Prime Minister Sanna Marin's government aims to expand wind power production by offering more state lands for construction. They are overseen by Metsähallitus, a state-owned company that administers more than 12 million hectares of state land and water areas.
Juha Niemelä, Director General of Metsähallitus, says fostering more wind power is part of the company's climate strategy.
In the next few years Metsähallitus will make enough land available to build wind farm capacity equivalent to a medium-sized nuclear power plant, he says. However ownership of the land will remain in state hands.
"About 80 new turbines will be under construction within the next few years," says Niemelä, who took over as director in January.
By the end of this year, there will be about 100 wind turbines on state-owned property.
The government parties agreed recently on new ownership guidelines for Metsähallitus in line with the cabinet's climate target of a carbon-neutral Finland by 2035.
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