Background
Ilmatar Vermassalo Oy, a project company owned by Ilmatar Energy Oy, is planning to build a wind power project with a nominal capacity of approximately 200 MW in the Vermassalo area of the city of Virrat. The planning area of Vermassalo is located in Northern Pirkanmaa, about 10 km west of Lake Vermasjärvi, at a distance of about 10 km from the centre of Virrat. The preliminary planning area covers an area of approximately 3 200 ha and will allow for the installation of around 20-25 wind turbines. The project area is based on the Hanhisuo-Vehkamäki wind farm area as defined in the current Pirkanmaa Regional Plan 2040.
A maximum of 25 turbines are planned for the area, with a maximum sweep height of 345 metres. The project will be developed entirely on land owned by Finsilva Oyj. The final outcome of the planning process will be influenced by, among other things, studies, opinions, comments and stakeholder consultations during the planning and environmental impact assessment (EIA) process.
Status
The City Council of Virrat has approved the Ilmattare zoning initiative at its meeting on 13 February 2023 to start the zoning process. At its meeting on 21 August 2023 § 237, the Virrat City Council approved the participation and assessment plan for the Vermassalo wind farm and decided to announce the start of the planning procedure and the opening of the participation and assessment plan. The participation and assessment plan for the Vermassalo wind power project (OAS) is open to the public from 24 August to 30 September 2023.
The environmental impact assessment procedure under the EIA Act will be launched in parallel with the planning of the Vermassalo wind power sub-area, with the Pirkanmaa ELY Centre acting as the contact authority. The environmental impact assessment (EIA) programme for the Vermassalo wind power project was open to the public from 24 August to 22 September 2023. The Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIA Report) is due to be published on 2 May 2024.
A public meeting on the EIA stage of the environmental impact assessment procedure for the Vermassalo wind power project in Virrat will be held on Tuesday 28 May 2024 at 17:00-19:00 at Kurjenkylä Village Hall (Kurjenkyläntie 232). Coffee service from 16:30. The event can also be followed remotely via the streaming link: https://youtube.com/live/IJfFlSmzyzA
Further information
Kirsi Kyllönen
Project Development Manager
Ilmatar
+358 40 151 1677
[email protected]
