Allegations of Bias Surface in Norderwöhrden over Northvolt Factory Approval
Allegations of Bias in Norderwöhrden
The approval process for the massive Northvolt battery factory in Norderwöhrden has come under scrutiny amid allegations of bias among local council members. Almost all of the council members have ties to the local hunting cooperative, according to Mayor Kay Uwe Evers, with all but one member being a member themselves or having family members who are.
Hunting Cooperative Membership
Membership in the hunting cooperative is automatic for all owners of huntable land up to 75 hectares, Evers explained. Björn Jörgensen, the administrative officer for the Heider Umland district, emphasized that the key factor is who the land is registered to. He expressed confidence that the allegations of bias could be refuted.
Compensation for Hunting Grounds
A Northvolt spokesperson clarified that in addition to compensation for various disruptions caused by the factory’s construction, a voluntary settlement of €3,000 each has been agreed upon for the loss of hunting grounds for both local hunting cooperatives, not for individuals.
Council Vote and Northvolt’s Financial Struggles
On January 22, 2024, the Norderwöhrden council voted 4 to 3 to approve Northvolt’s plans for a battery factory near Heide. The neighboring municipality of Lohe-Rickelshof had unanimously approved the project just days earlier.
Northvolt aims to produce battery cells for up to one million electric vehicles annually in Heide, but the company has been facing financial difficulties for some time. In November, it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States. This crisis could prove costly for the German federal government and the state of Schleswig-Holstein. Northvolt has received around €600 million from the state-owned development bank KfW, with the federal government and the state each guaranteeing half of the loan.
Legal Challenges
As of Friday, the Higher Administrative Court reported that no lawsuits had yet been filed challenging the council’s decision on grounds of bias.
Conclusion
The allegations of bias have cast a shadow over the approval process for the Northvolt factory in Norderwöhrden. The extent of the influence these ties may have had on the decision remains to be determined, but the issue has raised important questions about the transparency and accountability of local government decisions.
