Delaying debate on electricity strategy ‘is lazy and idiotic’
SOME States members were accused of laziness yesterday as decisions about the future of electricity were kicked into the autumn.
Environment & Infrastructure president Lindsay de Sausmarez said there was no other explanation for the Assembly backing Deputy Bob Murray’s bid to delay debate of her committee’s electricity strategy.
‘The case for delay was gobbledygook,’ said Deputy de Sausmarez.
‘It was all because some members felt a bit tired or hadn’t properly read the policy letter which had been out for 32 days.
‘I’ve got two senior roles in the States on top of casework, four children and a role in the community. Yes, life is busy. But for some people to turn up unprepared to debate an important policy letter is immensely frustrating.
‘Delay is utterly pointless. I’m frustrated at the sheer idiocy of this decision. The States really do deserve a kicking over this.’
E&I’s ambitious strategy aspires to wind power supplying more than half the island’s electricity needs by 2050.
About 10% would be generated by solar power. The remaining third would come from a new direct cable link with France.
The strategy has an estimated price tag of about £1.73bn over the next 25 years, funded by energy consumers. But it is expected to save hundreds of millions of pounds compared to maintaining current methods of generation.
Appealing unsuccessfully for the States to reject Deputy Murray’s sursis, Deputy de Sausmarez said maintaining the current approach to electricity would be more expensive and reputationally damaging.
She also said that delaying debate would force her committee to put off changes which it had hoped to make immediately, including making it easier to construct large solar arrays.
‘Anyone who supports on-island solar should be absolutely furious with this lazy decision to put the debate the other side of the summer adjournment.’
The Policy & Resources Committee originally scheduled debate on the electricity strategy for September.
Two weeks ago, at the request of E&I, deputies agreed to move it forward to July, before changing their minds yesterday.
‘Some States members just can’t see what this looks like to almost everyone else. It paints us in a terrible light,’ said Deputy de Sausmarez.
There has been speculation that some deputies want more time to prepare amendments proposing alternatives to E&I’s strategy.
But Deputy de Sausmarez was doubtful that was the reason for the 19-15 vote to delay.
‘I was feeling relatively confident. If we had debated it today and not had the sursis, I think it would have been a good debate and I was fairly confident the strategy would have been approved.
‘I wouldn’t rule out amendments in September, but I’m not aware of anyone preparing amendments with material changes.’
In debate, Deputy de Sausmarez repeatedly assured States members that her committee’s wish for Guernsey to be part of a global transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy was only one motivation for its electricity strategy, alongside making it cheaper for consumers than it would be otherwise and more secure for the island.
She also said that detailed proposals for a direct interconnector to France and an offshore wind farm would go back to the States for further debate.
The electricity strategy will now be considered by the States at its meeting due to start on 6 September.
