Finland's Minister of Economic Affairs, Mauri Pekkarinen, plans to bring a proposal for the construction of a hydroelectric reservoir in Vuotos in Finnish Lapland before the government. Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen says that the establishment of the controversial Vuotos reservoir would require a change in Finnish water legislation. The government's policy programme states that any change in the water law would require a unanimous decision by the government.
Pekkarinen says that he got the support of key ministers in the government for bringing the Vuotos initiative before the government. Vanhanen says that it is very unlikely that the reservoir will be established, but he feels that the matter should be discussed.
Pekkarinen says that more hydroelectric power is needed if goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions are to be implemented. He notes that hydroelectric power will be needed to balance out times of peak consumption, especially if the use of wind power is increased.
The Green League sharply opposes the Vuotos project. Green League chair Tarja Cronberg notes that plans for the Vuotos reservoir have been rejected by the Supreme Administrative Court. She also said that reservoirs would actually increase greenhouse gas emissions in the form of methane.
