Several suspected environmental violations in the wind farm

In a forest area in Viksjö outside Härnösand, one of Northern Europe's largest wind farms will be ready next year. Ten miles of roads will be built in the forests, in an area as large as just over 7,000 football pitches.

The billion building takes place in the valley of Ljustorpsån and Mjällån, an area that has been classified as a national interest in nature conservation. The special nip landscape is regarded as one of the most protected in the country.

The waterways are migratory routes and nurseries for sea trout and grayling - there are also rare and threatened plants.

In early October 2019, the park is inspected by the County Administrative Board's environmental protection unit, and several discoveries are being made that will have major consequences.

Forests have been felled incorrectly in a place where there are red-listed species. 200-year-old forest has been felled in an area that was planned to become a nature reserve. And on a slope of sensitive nature, thousands of cubic meters of land have been tipped, in violation of regulations.

Dump driver "Joel" tells Assignment Review that it was difficult to have views on the unauthorized tipping. The machine drivers were given orders by supervisors not to ask questions, says "Joel".

- We drove out to that tip for four days.

And how many machines did it run?

- We were about ten.

Six suspected violations of the environmental regulations have been reported to the police and a preliminary investigation is now underway. Nysäter Wind, who is ultimately responsible for the wind power project, receives harsh criticism from the County Administrative Board, which believes that the company has no control over its own operations.

Nysäter Wind stops the construction with immediate effect in large parts of the wind farm and it takes six weeks before the County Administrative Board gives the start of the building again.

The German company Nordex, which has been commissioned to build by Nysäter Wind, places the responsibility for the environmental crimes on its main contractor - Swedish Active Works. But the company's CEO, Göran Solig, backs the data.

After all, thousands of cubic meters of land have been dumped in an unauthorized manner, whose order was it?

- Nordex.

That's your simple answer?

- We have not done anything in the park but they have instructed us how to behave.