296 E. MOE ET AL.
by the power sector, which has strong economic interests in subsea
cables and the importation of European power prices to Norway, 8
employing self-serving green rhetoric and actively searching for green
arguments for wind power and cable construction, among other things
by funding research. 9 Instead, Manifest Tankesmie argues that the electricity contributes more to the climate if kept on domestic hands, as
a cheap, carbon-free input for Norwegian energy-intensive industries.
The carbon footprint from Chinese aluminum is for instance eight times
higher than that of Norwegian aluminum (Manifest Tankesmie 2019;
Marsdal 2019). Hence, by helping Norwegian industry, we help the
climate. Several of our interviewees reiterate this logic. Leif Sande (2018,
interview) of Industri Energi—the union that has been the most critical
of cables—argues that Norway exports 100 times more energy to Europe
through gas than electricity, which for most European countries counts
as a climate measure. Furthermore, Norway exports manufacturing goods
using renewable energy, which is a climate bonus contingent on being
able to provide cheap electricity to Norwegian industry. Eilertsen (2018),
also of Energi Industri, moreover maintains that the climate contribution
of Norwegian cables is negligible. Arguably, cables are only about the
interests of the power sector, whereas the potential damage to Norwegian industry is potentially severe. He argues that electricity prices will
not increase by 3–6 øre/kWh as predicted by Statnett (E24 2017), but
by 10–40 øre.
Industrial interests are however not as unambiguously negative as
above. Ole Løfsnæs (2018, interview) of Norsk Industri agrees that the
climate contribution from Norwegian cables is marginal. Yet, Løfnsæs
downplays the interest battle between the two main vested interests, the
industry and the power sector, stressing that they are really in the same
boat. Industry does not want the power companies to go bankrupt over
low power prices, and the power sector does not want the industry flagging out because of high power prices. There are no indications that
the power sector would opt for unlimited amounts of cables if given
the choice. There is a far greater harmony of interest between these two
vested interests than expected.
In summary, the industry’s overall attitude is industry first. The
industry generally favors wind power installations but is wary about
cables. Furthermore, the green battery concept is viewed with skepticism, and primarily as a way for the power sector to advocate its own
by the power sector, which has strong economic interests in subsea
cables and the importation of European power prices to Norway, 8
employing self-serving green rhetoric and actively searching for green
arguments for wind power and cable construction, among other things
by funding research. 9 Instead, Manifest Tankesmie argues that the electricity contributes more to the climate if kept on domestic hands, as
a cheap, carbon-free input for Norwegian energy-intensive industries.
The carbon footprint from Chinese aluminum is for instance eight times
higher than that of Norwegian aluminum (Manifest Tankesmie 2019;
Marsdal 2019). Hence, by helping Norwegian industry, we help the
climate. Several of our interviewees reiterate this logic. Leif Sande (2018,
interview) of Industri Energi—the union that has been the most critical
of cables—argues that Norway exports 100 times more energy to Europe
through gas than electricity, which for most European countries counts
as a climate measure. Furthermore, Norway exports manufacturing goods
using renewable energy, which is a climate bonus contingent on being
able to provide cheap electricity to Norwegian industry. Eilertsen (2018),
also of Energi Industri, moreover maintains that the climate contribution
of Norwegian cables is negligible. Arguably, cables are only about the
interests of the power sector, whereas the potential damage to Norwegian industry is potentially severe. He argues that electricity prices will
not increase by 3–6 øre/kWh as predicted by Statnett (E24 2017), but
by 10–40 øre.
Industrial interests are however not as unambiguously negative as
above. Ole Løfsnæs (2018, interview) of Norsk Industri agrees that the
climate contribution from Norwegian cables is marginal. Yet, Løfnsæs
downplays the interest battle between the two main vested interests, the
industry and the power sector, stressing that they are really in the same
boat. Industry does not want the power companies to go bankrupt over
low power prices, and the power sector does not want the industry flagging out because of high power prices. There are no indications that
the power sector would opt for unlimited amounts of cables if given
the choice. There is a far greater harmony of interest between these two
vested interests than expected.
In summary, the industry’s overall attitude is industry first. The
industry generally favors wind power installations but is wary about
cables. Furthermore, the green battery concept is viewed with skepticism, and primarily as a way for the power sector to advocate its own