WINDGOV analyses changes in windpower licensing in Norway, and how these changes influence the perceived legitimacy of windpower decisions, and pressure on land-use change in untouched areas. Norwegian windpower planning is further compared with Swedish windpower planning procedures as well as local planning regarding second homes (private holiday cabins). This planning competence is located with the municipalities. 

By studying this, WINDGOV addresses a currently polarised and highly controversial area for the public as well as within public administration. WINDGOV includes key user partners with different interests to contribute with their insights. These represent authorities and stakeholders at all levels. 

Concretely, the project will analyse: 
1) spatial and actual developments in land-use from windpower and second homes over time; 
2) the changes in licensing scheme and influence on output legitimacy and a stark shift in municipality stand on windpower; 
3) a contrasting case with second home planning arrangements; 
4) compare legal frameworks and practices in Norway and Sweden; and, finally,
5) synthesise findings and lessons for both academic use as well as the general public and public administration. 

The project enables the interdisciplinary research to generate knowledge that is highly relevant for the user partners and beyond, as well as contributing to the research frontier on licensing and planning, and the influence from the organisation of and changes in these on outcome legitimacy and land-use pressure. By building on a previous project on windpower licensing, and with the combination of sound academic research, active involvement of strategic user partners, a timely and relevant project, and an interdisciplinary collaborative project, will ensure significant impact.

Project period: 2021-2025