Agenda Profile: Andres Metsoja

Second reading of the Draft Act (359 SE) on amendments to the Law on the Organization of the Energy Economy, the Electricity Market Act, and the Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management System Act

2024-09-18

15th Estonian Parliament, 4th sitting, plenary session

Political Position
Skeptical of Bill 359 SE, which would accelerate renewable energy development, fearing that it might actually do a disservice to the renewable energy sector by causing public irritation. While supporting the adoption of renewable energy, driven by the European energy crisis, it is stressed that this must be based on community agreement and proportionality. The political framework is strongly value-based, focusing on trust and social justice in rural areas.

4 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
Deep knowledge regarding the planning of renewable energy, environmental impact assessments (EIAs), and the bottlenecks in nature conservation, emphasizing that the protection of natural values is hindering these processes. Uses specific examples (the Sopi-Tootsi wind farm, the Lavassaare residual bog) and refers to the long history of these planning processes (15–20 years). Criticizes the state's poor overall perspective, highlighting contradictory goals (a wind farm versus a bog restoration project in the same area).

4 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The tone is analytical, concerned, and critical, especially regarding the state's planning capacity, but it is simultaneously balanced by personal experience (the speaker lives near a wind turbine and doesn't consider life bad). The speaker uses logical arguments (a plan is an agreement) and cautionary imagery (a disservice/backfire, a cataclysm) to emphasize the danger of social opposition. Clarity and proportionality in legislation are demanded.

4 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
Took an active part in the second reading of the draft bill, repeatedly posing questions regarding its actual impact and delivering a lengthy, substantive address. He/She referenced participation in the Environment Committee debates the previous day, demonstrating commitment to committee work.

4 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The criticism is primarily aimed at the government/state planning process, which is inefficient and causes social friction, marginalizing rural residents. It stands in contrast to radical opposition to renewable energy, but also criticizes the ideology of the draft bill, which attempts to steamroll the community. The criticism is procedural and policy-based, not personal.

4 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
Emphasizes the need for agreement and trust with the community, noting that planning is always an agreement between the involved parties. The speaker referenced topics mentioned by other colleagues (Kalle Grünthal, Mart Maastik), demonstrating awareness of the discussion taking place in the hall.

4 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
A strong focus on rural areas and the periphery, where energy production actually takes place. It uses specific examples from Pärnu County (Sopi-Tootsi, Lavassaare) and emphasizes that the state must find areas where the impact is smallest. It demands that local communities, in whose backyard the wind turbines are located, receive a share of the investment through tolerance fees and impact compensation.

4 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
It supports stimulating the economy via energy production but stresses the necessity of adding value to the energy produced within Estonia (for instance, the example of an ethanol plant utilizing power from the Gulf of Riga wind farm). Furthermore, it advocates for implementing mechanisms (such as a tolerance fee or compensation payment) that ensure the social acceptance of these investments.

4 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
It focuses on social proportionality and the community's sense of justice. It sharply criticizes the situation where wind farm development is fast-tracked under the guise of heightened public interest, while stricter restrictions are imposed on landowners in nature conservation areas (such as requiring permits for grading forest roads). It warns that such disproportionality generates opposition in rural areas and fosters a feeling that their interests are being overridden.

4 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
It is a critical opponent of Bill 359 SE (Amendments to Energy Acts), which seeks to accelerate renewable energy development under the guise of heightened public interest. It argues that the bill fails to address genuine bottlenecks related to nature conservation and instead creates new problems in the form of community opposition.

4 Speeches Analyzed