Most Helsinki residents support idea of large wood chip power plant

Leftists and Centre Party members most in favour of greener solution to energy generation

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A majority of Helsinki residents second the idea of setting up a large wood chip biomass power plant in the Finnish capital. People see this as a measure of climate change prevention. The generation of heating and electricity causes the largest emissions in the area.
      According to a poll commissioned by Helsingin Sanomat, around a third of the residents are against the idea of the city-owned utility Helsinki Energy developing the plant.
      In the Swedish capital, Stockholm, on the other hand, the construction of a second wood chip power plant is already under way. The first one was introduced in 1996, with the conversion of an old coal plant into a unit that utilises wood chip biomass instead.
      Both the Swedish government and the city of Stockholm support the use of renewable bio fuel.
     
In the Greater Helsinki area the most divided opinions are found in the city of Espoo, where 48 per cent of the population are for and 38 per cent against the construction of the large chip plant. In the city of Vantaa, 60% of the respondents would back the idea.
      Respondents' political views also play a role in their attitude towards the plant. The members of the Left Alliance, the Centre Party, and the Green League stand most solidly behind the chip plant undertaking. Of the rightist National Coalition party members, a narrow minority of 48 per cent give their approval to the idea.
      Among different professions, the salaried employees are most sympathetic towards the plant. The most resistance was detected among entrepreneurs.
     
The discussion of the energy company’s taking part in climate change prevention was stepped up a notch in the spring by the Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre), who suggested that Helsinki Energy should be involved in the climate protection efforts by switching over to using bio fuels.
      The company has argued that it produces both electricity and heat as cleanly and efficiently as possible. The main fuel is natural gas, although some coal is also used.
     
Before its first meeting on the 29th of August, the Helsinki City Council will organise an energy-political discussion as a forum for the politicians to receive information and exchange views on the situation.
      Other energy production units in the capital area are the large power plants of Fortum in Suomenoja and Vantaa Energy in Martinlaakso, both of which also utilise fossil fuels.
      Next year, Fortum will start constructing a new large natural gas power plant in Suomenoja. The facility’s introduction is scheduled towards the end of 2009.
      Those who responded to the questionnaire were not asked how much or how much extra they would be prepared to pay for greener energy.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Comparison of Nordic cities shows Helsinki has worst gas emissions (19.9.2006)

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