He brings back TB.

The proposal is in the state budget for 2023, but the energy minister has already announced it at Monday’s extraordinary electricity meeting in the Storting.

– We need a reinforcement of the energy authorities which will allow us to process files more quickly. There will now be a significant boost, Oil and Energy Minister Terje Aasland (Ap) tells the newspaper.

Reduce file processing time

The strengthening of the energy authorities will go towards increasing staffing and capacity within case management, and will involve more money for the Norwegian Directorate of Water Resources and Energy (NVE) and the Ministry Oil and Energy.

More social workers means faster approval of licenses for new power plants, new wind farms or requests for expansion of hydroelectric plants, he says.

– One of the most important things we can do in the future is to extend the network and strengthen the production of renewable energy. This is absolutely fundamental, says Aasland.

The extent of the reinforcement has not been decided.

NHO: – Worthy of respect

– This is good news which will hopefully mean that the pace of development of much-needed renewable energy will increase and electricity prices will gradually decrease, said Norwegian Association Deputy Director General Anniken Hauglie of companies (NHO) to NTB.

Hauglie describes the electricity subsidy program for businesses, which the government introduced on Friday, as a bandage on the wound. It advocates the development of more renewable energies.

– The government is now making provisions for this by strengthening the departments of the ministry and the Directorate of Energy and Hydroelectricity, and this is to be commended, says Hauglie.