Data centre moratorium reaches the Storting: five parties back it, but a majority is missing

The Norwegian parliament has on its agenda for Tuesday, 3 November, Rødt's urgent proposal for a temporary halt to new data centres, E24 reports. The text asks the government to ensure that, until regulation is in place, data centres are not connected to the power grid, do not sign connection agreements, do not reserve grid capacity and are not granted consumption increases that require grid investment.

The argument. Rødt argues that the Energy Act allows immediate measures so that data centres do not use up Norway's power surplus and push prices up before proper regulation exists. The proposal is also backed by KrF, Sp, SV and MDG, and Rødt leader Marie Sneve Martinussen has called on Ap, Høyre and Frp to secure a majority.

The numbers. The Norwegian Communications Authority, Nkom, has registered 113 data centre operators in the country. According to E24's overview, 112 data centres are under construction or waiting in the queue at transmission system operator Statnett for power.

Why the majority is missing. The proposal needs the votes of Høyre or Frp, and both reject urgent handling. Tor Mikkel Wara, Frp's energy spokesperson, wants all proposals sent to the energy and environment committee and dealt with together, accusing the government of delay. Aleksander Stokkebø (Høyre) said, according to the NTB news agency, that the industry must be regulated more strictly, but Høyre believes a symbolic halt of a few months will not solve the problem.

What comes next. SV separately proposes a halt under the Planning and Building Act, modelled on the 1999 shopping centre moratorium, which lasted five years; only data centres with a function critical to society would be exempt. The Ap-led government has announced stricter rules, but Digitalisation Minister Torgeir Micaelsen said they must be weighed to avoid unintended consequences.

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