Unofficial group shows ‘level of interest in renewables’

Sam Haskins is vice-president of the Environment & Infrastructure committee, whose mandate includes energy matters.

But in responding to questions from the Guernsey Press yesterday he said he was speaking in an individual capacity.

Members of the group met E&I formally earlier this year, and committee president Lindsay de Sausmarez told them that an electricity strategy needed to be finalised before any firm plans for renewables could be looked at.

Deputy Haskins agreed that the strategy would be an important report.

‘It will set the stage for renewable projects, whether large-scale offshore wind or any tidal power,’ he said.

Complicated regulatory steps would need to be taken and he accepted that any work done to pursue large-scale renewable projects had to be done with it in mind.

‘The electricity strategy should be seen as the enabler for any such renewable projects,’ he said.

‘Energy cost, security and supply is one of the most important issues that every country faces, especially right now.’

The island had been somewhat sheltered from the current global energy crisis, largely due to hedging and having a stable demand profile, he said.

‘Many deputies understand the potential future impacts and are busy working and researching all the options available to us – both now and in the future.

‘The reality is that the “unofficial working party” that the Press refers to positively goes to show just how many deputies are actively engaged in being part of the solution, whether behind the scenes or centre stage.’

Deputy Haskins said he applauded any deputy who spent time trying to find opportunities and solutions to one of the island’s most critical areas.

‘There is a lot of work done by many deputies behind the scenes – this is not always understood and very often the important work goes unreported, sometimes even misreported.’

Comprising 15 States members, including Policy & Resources president Deputy Peter Ferbrache, the working party was put together after Deputy David De Lisle, a former Environment minister, organised a series of meetings about a year ago.

The membership of the group was revealed by Deputy Carl Meerveld, who said that Deputy de Sausmarez and States’ Trading Supervisory Board president Peter Roffey had both been invited to join but declined.

Deputy Roffey said in a Twitter exchange he had no recollection of being asked.

‘Neither was I informed at the outset,’ Deputy de Sausmarez wrote.