Chamber of Commerce remains neutral on wind farm 

The energy firm sponsored lobby group's 70th anniversary gala dinner

The Isle of Man Chamber of Commerce says it is taking a neutral stance on the proposed Mooir Vannin offshore wind farm. 

President Claire Watterson and board member Chris Corlett were challenged on Chamber's relationship with developer Orsted on Mannin Line this week.

The energy firm sponsored Chamber of Commerce's 70th anniversary gala dinner and has hosted events about the proposal, with a caller suggesting this could influence whether or not the lobby group could support the plans. 

However, Ms Watterson said the Chamber has been 'facilitating' for its members to interact with Orsted and said 'we don't either support it or we're not against it, so we are taking a very neutral position'.

She added: "What we do need to do is to make sure that everybody possible can see the benefits and the drawbacks of this. So therefore, we will facilitate events that allow this information to be dispersed and then it's up to members and the public, and obviously the MHKs themselves about how the how that information falls and what happens with this."

Challenged on what benefits Orsted says it could bring the Island, Ms Watterson said the company has said it would bring training and investment.

Mr Corlett added that Chamber's members are 'very curious about Orsted want to understand the potential economic benefits'.

He said: "Our business leaders, as we say, go from single-person businesses through to large corporates. They're hard-headed men and women who take a very honest assessment of everything. 

"They're not being being led up the garden path by any individual business. They wanted an opportunity to talk directly, and they did ask  full, fair, frank questions to Orsted, and Orsted had the opportunity to answer."