So far in 2025, the municipal veto has stopped nearly all proposed onshore wind power projects in Sweden. According to new statistics, between January 1 and September 12, 26 out of 29 projects were halted.
The 2025 figures show that the percentage of vetoes from municipalities has increased from previous years. Over the last five years, municipalities have approved around 50–70% of projects. So far this year, municipalities have stopped 26 of 29 projects. This corresponds to 346 of 359 wind turbines, which together had the potential to contribute 7.3 TWh. This indicates a clear negative trend for getting new wind power—and the new electricity production needed for the energy transition—in place in the coming years.
“In practice, almost all projects are being stopped, and investments in new renewable electricity production risk being completely abandoned” — Ina Müller Engelbrektson, Legal Counsel at Green Power Sweden
In September 2024, the government promised municipalities money starting in 2025 that corresponds to the property tax paid by wind power, along with incentives for local residents and communities. The government has yet to implement any of these measures.
“For municipalities to approve new wind power projects, the government must immediately ensure that compensation is paid to the municipalities and that the promised incentives for local residents and communities are put in place. Every month of delay means that projects are postponed or never happen” — Ina Müller Engelbrektson, Legal Counsel at Green Power Sweden
Significant Regional Differences Across the Country
In the Dalarna county, municipalities have so far this year stopped all projects to establish wind farms, even though a report from the Mid-Sweden Chamber of Commerce shows that two out of three companies in the region would be very negatively affected if not enough new electricity production and capacity were added by 2030. Kronoberg also stands out as a county where municipalities have used their veto power to deny several wind power projects in 2025. One of the few projects to receive municipal approval is in Skåne county, where no projects have been approved by municipalities in nine years. However, this specific project is not for new construction but for the replacement of existing wind turbines to increase electricity production.
About the Report: Municipal Veto Onshore Wind Power Interim Report 2025
Westander Climate and Energy, on behalf of Green Power Sweden, has compiled statistical data on municipalities’ use of the municipal veto for onshore wind power during the period from January 1 to September 12, 2025.
In total, 26 of 29 wind power projects were stopped by municipal vetoes. This corresponds to 346 of 359 wind turbines, which together had the potential to contribute 7.3 TWh.
Compared to previous years, the proportion of stopped projects is even higher, which coincides with the government’s failure to implement the announced compensation for municipalities and incentives for local residents and communities.
When applying to establish wind turbines, the developer needs approval from the relevant municipality for the project. This is a prerequisite for the review authority to be able to grant permission for the project.
