Helsinki decision-makers debate energy issues at Sanoma House

Parties want to boost share of renewables to 20 per cent

print this

Nuclear energy is set to be a key item of dispute, when Helsinki begins to cut its carbon dioxide emissions.
      "For the National Coalition Party, energy without emissions means nuclear power", said MP Sanna Perkiö (Nat. Coalition Party) at an energy debate organised by Helsingin Sanomat at Sanoma House in Helsinki.
      "We do not feel that nuclear power is a solution. There is not enough uranium", said Mari Puoskari of the Greens.
      Holding the balance were the Social Democrats, who did not have a clear-cut policy on the matter.
      If energy sources are insufficient otherwise, we will need to use nuclear power", said the SDP's Kai Kalima.
     
Helsinki's parties have agreed provisionally that the city will triple the proportion of renewable sources in its energy mix, raising it to 20 per cent, and to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent by 2020. In addition, the energy efficiency of construction is to be improved.
      Final policy lines will be hammered out at a meeting of the Helsinki City Council on Wednesday.
      "You are taking a step in the right direction, but we need to go forward", said Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre) to the city's politicians.
      He noted that the goal of reducing emissions by 20 per cent that has been agreed upon in the EU is just the beginning: the target needs to be doubled, at least, when approaching the year 2050.
      Vanhanen said that the state will be setting new and tougher requirements for energy efficiency. In addition, possibilities of increasing the use of wind energy are to be considered.
     
Vanhanen has often taken issue with the cheap electricity and district heat produced by Helsinki's coal-fired power plants. Stockholm, for instance, is increasingly making use of alternate sources, such as extracting heat from sea water, and burning waste, and using biological sources of energy.
      "We need to find ways to reduce the use of fossil fuels. The same must be done in hundreds of villages around Finland", Vanhanen said.
      The city politicians were prone to point the finger back at Vanhanen, even though the carbon footprint of Helsinki's coal fired plants was conceded.
      It was pointed out that Helsinki has an extensive district heating network, a concentrated urban structure, and functioning public transport, whereas people living in detached houses in Vanhanen's home community of Nurmijärvi commute to Helsinki in their own cars.
     
There is nevertheless a consensus that Helsinki will start to cut its carbon dioxide emissions.
      "Fighting climate change is a central issue. There is no need for debate on the matter", said Seppo Ruohonen, CEO of Helsinki Energy.
      In the next few years, debate is set to focus on how this is to be achieved.
      The National Coalition Party wants to increase the use of nuclear energy and to examine the use of wind power, but it questions the feasibility of burning wood chips.
      The Social Democrats propose the establishment of a wood pellet factory somewhere that can be reached by ships, but it does not want a wind farm off the coast of Helsinki.
      The Greens want congestion charges for cars in Helsinki and a wind farm in a location where there is enough wind.
      The National Coalition Party and the SDP also believe that coal can be burned in the future as well, once a way is found to collect the carbon dioxide that is emitted. However, such technology is likely to double the costs of using coal.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Helsinki plans to triple use of renewable energy (14.1.2008)
  Helsinki may not give up on use of coal (8.1.2008)

Helsingin Sanomat