News

Landowners with interest in wind power have an opportunity to increase their knowledge on wind power on March 22, when the Vaasa Wind Exchange takes place in Vaasa, gathering the top competence in wind power.

- The event gives land owners a chance to meet planners and to familiarise themselves with various types of business models and compensation systems for wind power. This is the place to meet representatives and discuss more thoroughly, describes Raine Vasanoja, Senior Business Advisor at Vaasa Region Development Company VASEK.

He emphasizes that the aim of the event is not to offer planners with an interest in the business a venue where to boast with their knowledge. - It is not just the business life that will be present at the event but the visitors also have a chance to meet authorities, to learn about land use planning and permission processes and to receive the latest information in wind power, he lists. 

If everything goes as planned, a presentation on general land use planning prepared by the Ministry of Environment will also be given. - The Ministry has a new proposal that was drafted in the beginning of February. We hope there will be completed information we can share during the event, says Vasanoja.

Vasanoja stresses that VASEK is a neutral party and that it does not represent the business life's interests only. - The story behind the event is that we have always wanted to organise an event that gathers everyone for discussion. In our role as a development partner, we are involved in and, in the least, creating constructive discussion with no mud-slinging.

- How the wind power plans will proceed in our region depends on trade and industry, authorities, landowners and developers and this is the forum where everyone may have their say, he explains.  

At the moment, 50 exhibitors have booked space at the event, among which Svenska Producentförbund (ÖSP), The central union of Swedish-speaking agricultural producers in Finland (SLC) and Skogsvårdsföreningen Österbotten. - It is positive that all involved get together and everyone interested in wind power can meet various organisations and companies. It is not easy to predict but I do hope that we will have an excellent event, comments Tomas Långgård, vice-chairman for ÖSP.

The event is free of charge to visitors but registration is required online at www.energyvaasa.fi. The arranging organisation is expecting several hundred visitors. - We hope to see around 300-400 participants, states Vasanoja.

(Summary of an article by Christoffer Thomasfolk in newspaper Landsbygdens Folk)