The first resident meetings for the Edith offshore wind project were held in April in the coastal villages of Norrnäs and Skrattnäs in Närpiö. The purpose of the events was to provide up‑to‑date information on the project’s development and to gather residents’ perspectives, questions, and concerns. Metsähallitus was represented by Kukka-Maaria Kallio, accompanied by Ramboll’s EIA consultancy expert Ella Wahlbeck and Mayor Mikaela Björklund, together with the chairs of the city council and city board. The discussions were active and wide‑ranging, reflecting strong local interest in the project’s potential impacts.
Central topics included noise, underwater impacts, and landscape and visual considerations. Residents inquired about how turbine noise may travel over water, how construction activities could affect water turbidity levels, and how aviation obstruction lights might be perceived in the surrounding landscape. Environmental effects were also discussed from the perspectives of fish stocks and birdlife, reflecting the importance of ecological integrity in the region. The formal period for submitting statements and comments will take place in autumn during the public display of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) program and the Participation and Assessment Scheme (PAS) for the zoning process.
Economic impacts were also a key area of interest. According to Metsähallitus’ preliminary assessment, property tax revenue from the project could provide the municipality with an estimated EUR 100,000 per turbine per year. Regarding grid connection and transmission, residents provided feedback on preferred landfall locations, the siting of a potential substation, and routing options for overhead lines. Among the alternatives presented, the southern landfall option received the strongest support.
The meetings also addressed Finland’s rapidly increasing electricity demand and the strategic role of offshore wind in meeting national and industrial energy needs. Residents questioned the necessity of new projects given that some onshore turbines are currently idle. It was noted that electricity consumption is rising significantly and that offshore wind offers a scalable and efficient means of increasing emission‑free generation without placing new turbines near residential areas. While some residents expressed concerns about the overall volume of wind power and the volatility of electricity prices, the discussions underscored the importance of assessing the broader context: long‑term energy demand, regional economic benefits, and comprehensive impact evaluation.
The meetings included a presentation of a 360‑degree visualization of the Edith offshore wind farm, filmed from the shoreline at Fagerö. The filming location was selected based on resident proposals collected during the project’s cooperation group meeting in November. The visualization received predominantly neutral feedback. The 360‑degree video will next be available for viewing in central Närpiö during Tomatkarnevalen on 3–4 July. Additional visual materials will be presented at the public event for the EIA program in the autumn.
The resident meetings provided valuable knowledge exchange and strengthened dialogue between project developer, residents and decisionmakers. Metsähallitus extends its appreciation to all participants for their active engagement and warmly welcomes stakeholders to future events related to the Edith project. The next opportunity for engagement will be at Metsähallitus’ stand during Tomatkarnevalen in Närpiö. During autumn, an open public event for the marine section of the EIA will be held in September, followed by a corresponding event for the land‑based section in November. Exact dates will be announced on the project website, in local newspapers, and on ymparisto.fi closer to the events.
Stakeholders are invited to follow and learn more about the EIA program studies and to continue the dialogue on the Edith offshore wind project.
Text and photos: Kukka-Maaria Kallio