Island needs wind farm guarantees 

The final panel hearings were held this week

A hearing into the proposed Mooir Vannin offshore wind farm has heard the island needs greater protections but it should be supported. 

The independent panel which will make a recommendation to ministers met for the final time this week to hear evidence about the potential impact to the land and seascape.

Laxey resident Adam Horsey told the panel the wind farm should go ahead but the island needs guarantees over decommissioning costs and electricity supply.

He said: 'Our dependence on imported fossil fuels is not sustainable, the way we generate electricity must change and offshore wind has an important role to play in that transition.

'I believe many people on this island, whatever their political views, understand that. But supporting renewable energy does not mean accepting any deal placed before us.'

He said the government should seek guarantees from Orsted including protecting future generations from a massive clean up bill.

'Before a single foundation is installed, there should be a legally binding and an independently secured decommissioning fund or bond that follows the project, regardless of who owns it. Future generations should never inherit a multi-100 million-pound liability because we failed to insist on proper safeguards today.'

Addressing concerns about impact on the sea life in Manx waters, Horsey said this requires full consideration but that experiences elsewhere show wildlife often adapts after construction has finished including where artificial reefs have formed on the base of turbines. 

He also told the panel that the government needs to ensure islanders receive a portion of any electricity produced by the proposed wind farm off the island's east coast.

He said: 'It seems extraordinary that we could host one of the largest offshore wind farms in the Irish Sea, while still importing much of our electricity and remaining exposed to international energy markets. 

'It's our wind, our seabed, and our coastline. Yet there is no binding commitment that the people of the island will receive power and that should change.'

Despite this, Horsey said: ''An island that controls its own energy is less exposed to global gas prices and is producing clean electricity from the natural resources that surround it. That's not unreasonable ambition, it's good planning.'

He added that if the government got those issues right, the proposed wind farm 'could become one of the greatest opportunities in our island's modern history. If we do not, history may ask why we gave away so much while asking so little in return.'