STATES Members have given overwhelming backing for ministers to launch a project looking at the opportunities for a wind farm to be built in Jersey’s territorial waters.
After just over three hours of debate, politicians voted by 40-1 to support the move to explore the potential benefits of a scheme that would be likely to be developed around ten miles south-west of Corbière.
Deputy Max Andrews voted against the scheme.
The vote requires the Council of Ministers to bring forward appropriate policy and legislation before the end of 2024 to set in place a process to lease, provide consent for, regulate and safely decommission a wind farm.
Environment Minister Steve Luce said the proposition did not commit the Island to building a wind farm, to any excessive expenditure, or bind Jersey into a relationship with third parties. It was possible, he added, that after detailed studies had taken place a decision could be reached that the concept did not work for Jersey.
However, the minister said that at this stage there were “very strong and compelling reasons for us to look seriously at this opportunity, which could give us an important long-term strategic edge in a volatile energy landscape”.
During the early stages of the debate, Members rejected an amendment by Deputy David Warr, who was seeking a stipulation which would have required ministers to have worked in partnership with Jersey Electricity during all stages of the development of the wind farm.
Deputy Luce said this move would be premature and risked a conflict of interest, and the amendment was rejected by 41-2.
