The Energy Museum on its knees: Loses subsidy and has to fire 12 out of 18

VIBORG:The Energy Museum at Tange Sø has lost its operating grant of six million kroner, and thus there is no money for 12 out of the 18 employees, the museum informs, which has received a final refusal from Energy Minister Lars Aagaard (M) on the museum's application to be allocated operating funds for 2024 and beyond

Since 2002, the museum has received a state operating subsidy paid via Energinet for its operations. In 2022, the Danish Supply Authority decided that it was no longer legal to
pay out this grant.

- The then energy minister in the area, Dan Jørgensen (S), promised in a letter to the museum that he would help us further, so that we could secure the subsidy in another way. For incomprehensible reasons, Lars Aagaard (M) did not feel bound by this promise, and we are therefore in an impossible financial situation, which means that half of the museum's finances are gone, and that we therefore have to dismiss the majority of the employees. In factual figures, this is about 12 out of 18 employees, according to a press release signed by board chairman Karin Gaardsted (S).

Want on the Finance Act

Chairman of the board Karin Gaardsted states: "It is a very unhappy situation that the museum is in. We were financially thrown out with the bathwater by the change of ministers in the Ministry of Energy 8 months ago. We have been ruled out of the Ministry of Energy, and at the moment it is impossible to enter the culture, because work is being done on a museum reform, which will not be decided until 2024. The board has a great responsibility. As there is no prospect of operating funds, we will therefore have to take drastic action and significantly reduce the number of employees. And we are really sad about that.”

The board has contacted a large number of parliament politicians, both rapporteurs and all locally elected members of parliament in the region, to get their support for the Energy Museum to be included in the Finance Act here during the autumn. They are the ones we need help from, otherwise the museum will close permanently. Gaardsted goes on to say:

"The museum is unique. It is Denmark's only energy museum, and now we rightly fear for its future. In a time when both climate and energy are at the top of the agenda, I believe that dissemination of knowledge about energy and climate-friendly solutions to second school children is incredibly relevant. Denmark is historically centrally located in the development of renewable energy. Children and young people must be aware of that history, just as they must be inspired to invent the solutions of the future. That is why I am surprised that the minister is in practice closing down the museum, which can focus on energy and the importance of energy for society and the climate. The board will continue to work intensively to obtain the necessary funds so that the museum can reopen to the public."

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