Environmental adaptation worries residents in Alby in Ånge: "Then we stand on the barricades"

2022-05-28T03:41:22.451Z

The environmental adaptation of hydropower means changes in the landscape. In Alby in Ånge municipality, the local population fears that environmental adaptation will destroy the environment and arouse strong feelings. - River those ponds, we stand on the barricades, says property owner Jan Filipsson.

The environmental adaptation that must be made in all regulated Swedish watercourses must improve the situation for life in the water, but can also mean that dams are demolished.

In Alby in Ånge municipality, the plans have aroused strong feelings.

- It would be devastating, says Jan Linquist who settled by one of the ponds to live near the water.

Free passage

If you river the ponds at Alby, there will be free passage in the water for fish and other aquatic species, but at the same time the water surfaces that have existed for a hundred years will disappear.

The seabed will be drained and the water flow that does not go into power plant tunnels will find its way like a small river.

- My property will be destroyed, states Jan Filipsson who has a property with a beach plot by one of the ponds.

Power companies and authorities on site

Recently, power stakeholders and authorities were on site in Alby to see how the environmental adaptation can be done without significantly affecting the production of electricity.

- We have to do something, states Anders Bergman at Statkraft.

Wants the dams to be demolished

A demolition would mean that the power company avoids maintenance costs for the dams, and the County Administrative Board in Västernorrland would like to see dams demolished.

At the same time, the County Administrative Board's view is that the environmental assessment must be carried out for the environment and take into account general environmental interests, while individual interests are subordinate.

Circulation alternative to demolition

- But there may be other solutions than demolition, say the property owners who prefer to see so-called bypasses built.

Here's how a circuit works:

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