ISLANDERS should know by the end of the year whether Jersey will pursue the development of a wind farm in its territorial waters – with work to develop policy and legislation for debate “progressing well”, according to the Environment Minister.
Deputy Steve Luce said that he had made it “very clear” to officers that he wanted the debate on offshore wind to happen in 2025.
His update follows the States Assembly’s approval of a proposition last year, to further investigate the opportunity to develop a wind farm, of up to one-gigawatt in generating capacity, in the south-west of Jersey’s territorial waters.
Deputy Luce said: “Work is progressing well on the development of policy and legislation to set in place a process to lease, consent, regulate and decommission an offshore wind farm.
“I have instructed officers to prepare two documents.
“The first, a draft law, which would establish a framework for consenting the construction, operation and decommissioning of offshore energy installations, including offshore wind.”
He added that the second document would be a proposition setting out his “proposed approach” to identifying, securing, facilitating and opening a formal leasing process “once relevant legislation and processes are in place”.
Deputy Luce continued: “It’s my aim to present both these papers here to Members during the autumn and debate the proposals and legislation before the end of this year.
“The proposal that I will bring forward will include the strategic drivers for such a project and the benefits case for the Island, taking into account likely market conditions.”
While he said he would return to the Assembly “with the best option”, Deputy Luce noted that “the best option may be that we don’t proceed”.
“A decision has been taken to move forward to the next stage, but the main decision will be taken at the end of this year as to whether we move forward further.”
Following a question from former Environment Minister Jonathan Renouf, Deputy Luce also acknowledged the French government’s “aspirations” for additional wind farms west of the Island and the potential “shadowing effect” this could have on a local scheme.
He said: “That is all going to have to be discussed with the French government – if we move forward at all.”
But Deputy Luce also confirmed that there were “a number of commercial entities interested in a Jersey opportunity”, adding that he remained “positive that there are options for the Island should we wish to proceed to the leasing round”.
