Data centers face tighter rules

The latest Vestfold and Telemark news from the past 48 hours focuses on 3 main issues: the parliamentary opposition is demanding tighter oversight of data center construction, oil pollution near Vallø in Vestfold is causing concern, and a Norwegian record was set during an ultramarathon followed from Sandefjord. Local news and ongoing court proceedings in Vestfold and Telemark appear at the end of the article.

Data centers: opposition demands tighter oversight

The debate over data centers is intensifying. KrF wants to “pull the emergency brake,” Frp is calling for an end to the “tut og køyr” approach — managing things without oversight — and Høyre says the government is “somlar,” meaning it is cobbling things together. The opposition demands better control of data center construction (NRK Vestfold / Telemark).

The parties are calling for clearer rules before approving new facilities. The issue is being closely monitored in Vestfold and Telemark, where planning and energy decisions are the responsibility of municipalities and the 2 counties (NRK Vestfold / Telemark). The debate concerns the electricity consumption and land use associated with these facilities.

Environment: oil pollution near Vallø raises concern

Julie (MDG), a member of parliament, is reacting to the oil pollution discovered near Vallø: “I find this frightening,” she says (Tønsbergs Blad, 23 October). The Vallø site is in Vestfold, near Tønsberg.

The case adds to the environmental concerns raised in the county. The same source also reports that residents of Barkåker describe a shortcut as dangerous: “It is extremely important that people respect the barriers,” a local voice insists (Tønsbergs Blad, 23 October).

Sport: Norwegian record followed from Sandefjord

Nora Kojen Stubbe, 23, from Trondheim, ran 70 laps during the Backyard ultra, a format in which runners set off again every hour over 6.706 km. “It is completely crazy. I would never have thought I would run 70 laps in a backyard. It is unreal,” she says. After nearly 3 days and more than 469 km, the event ended (NRK Vestfold / Telemark).

She took 3rd place and set the Norwegian women’s record with 47 laps. Anders, from Sandefjord, followed her performance (NRK Vestfold / Telemark).

Economy: Spetalen will not return to Norway

Øystein Stray Spetalen, an investor from Sandefjord who has lived in Switzerland since autumn 2025, says he will never return to Norway. In an interview with Finansavisen, he criticises the tax policy and argues that an increase in taxes on wealth and dividends makes value creation more difficult. “Norway is completely ruined,” he says, recalling that he took 800 million kroner in dividends before leaving (NRK Vestfold / Telemark).

Local life: cafés, safety and connected glasses

In Tønsberg, plans to open a café have run into costs considered too high: “It is much too expensive,” the project organisers summarise (Tønsbergs Blad, 23 October). Students Johannes and Falk, 17, react to artificial intelligence glasses: “It is frightening to be filmed without knowing it,” they say (Tønsbergs Blad, 23 October).

📌 Local briefs

2 brothers were sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison for producing and storing narcotics after more than 7 kilos of cannabis and cocaine were found in a home in Vestfold in May 2024 (NRK Vestfold / Telemark).

In Porsgrunn, Telemark, large rocks fell near a building. A geologist inspected the area on Thursday afternoon and says it is not necessary to evacuate any more residents (NRK Vestfold / Telemark).

The human trafficking trial in Nedre Telemark has been disrupted: the Agder Court of Appeal has ordered the replacement of the entire defence team for the main defendant, making a likely interruption to the trial, now in its 6th week (NRK Vestfold / Telemark).

A 16-year-old from Vestfold, prosecuted over a planned attack on an Oslo kindergarten, had his detention extended by 1 week due to uncertainty about his state of health (NRK Vestfold / Telemark).

Sources: NRK Vestfold / Telemark, Tønsbergs Blad, Telemarksavisa, The Local Norway — Period: 22 October 2026 and 23 October 2026