Vindkraft och landskap
The current debate about environment and climate change has contributed to more andmore investment in alternative energy sources such as wind, solar and biogas. The Swedish Parliament has set the target that wind power should supply 10 TWh in 2015.In Sweden, wind power establishment began in the early 1980s. Since then the development has gained a tremendous momentum. The purpose of this study was to find out what problems wind power brings and what power relations that exists in connection with wind power establishment and how the landscape is affected by windpower construction, focusing on some cases in Falkenberg and Varberg. This study shows that wind power establishment is a very complicated process. The wind power's impact on the landscape is evident in both municipalities and can be viewed in terms of physical and visual impact, such as shadows and noise. Wind power projects can also affect wildlife, particularly birds, in an area. Most wind farms are located along the coast, but lately establishments have begun inland and offshore. In both municipalities, there are many people who see wind power as disturbing as it has resulted in changed views, noise, shadows or that the economic value of their property falls. Although windpower generates clean, green, low-emissions energy with little impact on natural resources, there are many people who oppose wind power development. A major reason for this is the location of wind power installations and an inadequate communication between government agencies, politicians, businesses, local residents and all others involved in setting up wind power mills in a municipality. This can be linked to government power and its exercise which can create the basis for various power groupings and conflicts between stakeholders. Group authority and instrumental power are the two authority categories most often associated with wind power establishment.This study also shows that despite public protests responsible authorities grants expansion of wind turbine developments in some enviromentally sensitive areas in both Falkenberg and Varbergs municipalities. Another result this study shows is that windpower astabilishment in Falkenberg municiplity has developed furher than in Varbergs municipality. The reason for this coluld be seen as that Falkenbrg?s municipality has alonger tradition of wind power sources than Varberg?s municipality has.