Environment 'duty-bound' to submit energy policy in 2020
DELIVERING an energy policy, hydrocarbon policy and action on climate change before the end of 2020 is an ambitious target, but one Environment & Infrastructure is duty-bound to achieve, its president has said.
Speaking in the wake of releasing Wednesday’s statement of intent on the energy policy, Barry Brehaut said the target was clearly ambitious, but commitments had been made.
‘We gave a commitment to bring a policy letter to the States before the end of 2020,’ he said.
‘We have taken the draft to the States committees and we took the draft to a targeted group of industry experts and energy stakeholders.
‘We have realised that you can’t impose a policy on a community – in that respect, the responses we have received informs the policy letter.’
Deputy Brehaut also stressed the importance of green finance in boosting the island’s reputation and encouraging further investment into renewable energies.
‘There is a certain, and I hate to use that word, synergy in Guernsey having these funds managed here on island. [Guernsey] being identified as a green island is moving away from negative views held about the island. Guernsey is not a tax haven but it is seen
that way. In terms of reputation, if we can harness whatever funds are available to us then we must do so.
‘Guernsey, because of scale, can probably do better than other communities [in terms of climate action] and we have responsibility to the global community in that respect.’
Deputy Brehaut said that the energy policy cannot be viewed in isolation.
‘In Guernsey, currently, the power station is burning hydrocarbons until the undersea cable is laid. There are hydrocarbon import issues as the tankers reach the end of their life.
‘Then there is the harbour requete and what importation infrastructure may emerge from that. Really there are three big pieces of legislation that all need to come together.’
He said he was aware of the difficulties faced by energy stakeholders such as Guernsey’s primary power provider, Guernsey Electricity, which is considering whether to invest in a cable link with France.
‘GE have produced a lengthy response to the energy policy consultation and we have due regard for their concerns and appreciate the challenges they are facing,’ he said.
‘We need the tools in place to provide cheap energy to all and secure energy supply in an ever-changing market. The energy policy and subsequent regulation is there to assist everyone in the market.’
