Power plant project... officially on hold!

We’ve hit a major milestone on this project: building of the power plant is officially on hold. 

How do we know this? 

In June 2020, the developer’s permit for site development research expired. That means the company would need to undergo a whole new development consent procedure to continue the work. With increasing awareness, protections and activism around the area, obtaining a new permit and support for the project will become increasingly difficult. 

Local staff was fired as the company claims a “temporary halt” due to market conditions and a legal case regarding land boundaries (brought on by our friends at ÓFEIG), which will likely take years to settle. If successful, this case will protect a river that developers anticipated contributing 1/4 of the water destined for the plant, making the power plant project further unviable. The legal challenge for the land boundaries would not be possible without the valuable support of the Nell Newman Foundation, ÓFEIG and local patrons.

So, while this pause is claimed to be temporary, we suspect that the company just isn’t willing to publicly admit defeat after putting millions of dollars into this failed project that’s gaining the attention of Icelanders and folks around the world.

We’re doing everything in our power to keep up this momentum, continuing to build barriers to make it even harder for the company to move forward if they choose to revisit the project.

How? By legally supporting landowners’ rights in the area. By encouraging eco-toursim and expanding the community of people who know and care about this area. 

Looking into the future, local conservation groups are considering how else we might continue bridging value to this area that doesn’t take the form of ecologically destructive energy projects. We’re looking into more economically feasible and environmentally-friendly solutions that benefit the people of the Westfjords and of Iceland at large. We’re looking at how government protection, possibly even mandating the area as a national park someday could help ensure this place is protected. 

We’re quietly celebrating over here, at least for the time being. In a time where there seem to be few victories for the good and sane of our world, we’ll take this win against corporate greed.