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Tensions might be running high between Jersey and Guernsey – but the Government is still engaging with its neighbour over plans for a wind farm, as the island starts to examine the possibility of its own.
Environment Minister Steve Luce assured States Members this week that he remains committed to bringing forward the necessary legislation and propositions for the project, which was agreed in principle earlier this year.
He added that he is carrying out ongoing discussions with neighbouring jurisdictions to advance the initiative.
Deputy Luce said he spent two days in Guernsey last week discussing climate impact and offshore wind farms, with his team regularly consulting with officials from Guernsey, the Isle of Man, and France.
Guernsey politicians last year voted not to collaborate with Jersey on a future electricity strategy following a debate that saw them dredge up multiple previous fall-outs that had apparently left the islands on the brink of all-out "political civil war".
However, a panel event focused on "unlocking Guernsey's offshore wind opportunity" will be held on the island next Wednesday – and Jersey-born Dr Mark Leybourne of Dyna Energy, who has already been working on the Jersey opportunity is among the speakers. He will be joined by Deputy Carl Meerveld, the States of Guernsey's offshore wind sub-committee representative, Guernsey Electricity Business Strategy Lead Mat Desforges and Huub den Rooijen CBE, ex-Crown Estate and offshore wind industry pioneer.
Pictured: Environment Minister Steve Luce.
"This is an important project," Deputy Luce told the States Assembly this week.
"We are working to resolve outstanding questions from the in-principle debate in April, so we can make informed decisions when we return to the Assembly."
In April, the States Assembly approved a proposition 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.
The decision followed a public consultation, which ran from November 2023 to February 2024.
The proposition, which the States Assembly approved by 40 votes to one, also explained that leasing of seabed rights would be the first commercial stage of the project.
Pictured: Jersey's proposed wind farm could generate twice as much power as the 62-turbine wind farm currently being built north of Saint Brieuc, which comes very close to Jersey’s territorial waters.
The Environment Minister has confirmed that a key next step will be to seek support from States Members to lease Jersey's seabed, potentially by the end of 2025.
He acknowledged that there were a large number of questions from States Members during the in-principle debate that need to be resolved to allow for an informed decision.
Deputy Luce said that his team is now carrying out more detailed work to look into these issues.
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