Hedensted mayor criticizes government neglect of rural areas in Denmark

The government frequently promotes its green ambitions and the significant plan to phase out oil and gas to achieve independence from Russia and President Putin. However, in Hedensted Municipality, Mayor Ole Vind from the Liberal Party struggles to reconcile this with current realities, stating, “We are leaving many small rural areas and villages behind.”

Earlier this spring, the Jutland municipality approved two local heating projects and promised financial guarantees. Residents in the villages of Hjortsvang and Rårup had long been working to garner support for a shared geothermal solution, known as termonet, which many households could connect to. Vind emphasized the efforts made to develop sustainable heating solutions for their villages.

Although there is potential for district heating, not all areas will benefit. The termonet initiative was seen as an eligible project under the municipal heating supply law and could receive a municipal guarantee. However, politicians at the national level have decided not to cover termonet under this law, prompting strong criticism. As a result, residents often have to seek individual solutions, like heat pumps, if they wish to abandon their oil or gas boilers.

Vind rejected accusations that Hedensted Municipality rushed the approval of the termonet projects. He noted that legal interpretations shifted after new guidance from the Energy Agency. He criticized the government for neglecting smaller communities, stating that they should not be left to fend for themselves with expensive and environmentally damaging individual solutions.

Other municipalities, such as Skanderborg, are also advocating for termonet as it offers a viable alternative to traditional heating methods, especially in areas without access to district heating. The political agreement has garnered mixed reactions, with concerns that it undermines efforts to develop sustainable heating solutions across rural Denmark.