JERSEY Electricity’s proposed Champs Verts development “remains under review”, the utility company has said – over a year since its application for the scheme was withdrawn.
The utility company explained that the project, which would involve the installation of solar panels on fields in St Mary, was still being considered as part of a “wider reassessment” of its Solar 5,000 programme to power 5,000 homes with locally-generated solar power by 2030.
Amid pushback from members of the Save This View campaign group – as well as questions posed by the Cabinet Office – JE announced in February last year that it had decided to “temporarily withdraw” the Champs Verts plans, but stated at the time that it intended to resubmit the application “in due course”.
In a recent statement, William Layzell, who leads the Save This View group, said: “It’s over a year since the planning application was withdrawn, partly, we believe, because of our campaign but also because of objections raised by the government’s Cabinet Office.”
Referencing a separate announcement by JE earlier this year about its decision to pull the plug on plans for a solar farm at Belle Fontaine, Mr Layzell added: “Residents now deserve to be told if Jersey Electricity intends to go ahead [with Champs Verts] or if this scheme, like the one in St Martin, is to be abandoned.
“No doubt these are questions which will be asked during the election campaign in May. Candidates and States Members will want to know how much JE has spent on these two schemes: one scrapped, the other unlikely to go ahead.”
In response, JE stated that the Champs Verts project “remains under review as part of a wider reassessment of the company’s Solar 5000 programme”.
“Solar generation remains an important part of improving the resilience and diversity of Jersey’s electricity supply,” the statement continued.
“Local solar generation can help reduce daytime peak demand, particularly during the summer months, while providing a stable long-term fixed-cost source of energy.”
JE also announced last week that it had agreed a partnership with the government that will see rooftop solar arrays installed across a range of public buildings.
“Rooftop solar installations are also being progressed where buildings are suitable, althouth they are not viable in every case and are typically more expensive per unit of capacity than ground-mounted schemes,” yesterday’s statement noted.
