Public consultation 'needed' before Alderney wind turbine plans progress
A full public consultation will take place before plans for three 60- high wind turbines and a large solar array go ahead, the States of Alderney has confirmed.
‘These are exciting proposals, but may be contentious as such matters always are,’ said Policy & Finance chairman Nigel Vooght.
‘That’s why proposals for both types of energy generation will be put out to public consultation in due course, before planning applications are submitted.’
Proposals by Alderney Electricity for the turbines and a 2,000-panel solar array were unveiled earlier this week.
This would enable the island to hit its target of one third of its power coming from renewable energy by May 2026.
AEL managing director James Lancaster said it was important that before any decision was made to proceed, the community understood the full implications of what was being proposed.
‘Therefore we have worked up a detailed proposal for them to examine,’ he said.
La Corvee could be home to the solar arrays and Fort Albert is a possible site for the wind turbines.
Alex Snowdon, one of Alderney’s representatives in the States of Guernsey, said that public engagement was now the number one priority.
‘The plans need to have feedback from the community,’ he said.
‘It is not a done deal and it may have been better to start with more public engagement to understand how sites were considered.’
His counterpart, Steve Roberts, agreed that a public consultation was paramount.
‘We have got to move forward with green energy,’ he said. ‘I’m not sure how the wind farm will go down with the public. You need the public consultation to look at the pros and cons.
'Personally I don’t have an issue with the turbines, and if the public want it I will support it.’
He said electricity was very expensive on Alderney, which affected home and businesses.
‘With tidal power not taking the steps we hoped, wind has to be considered, but I’d like to see us look at a large wind farm at sea that could earn us money. I think that should be part of the discussion, but it may be further down the line,’ Mr Roberts said.
Mr Lancaster will be taking questions live on air on Riduna Radio, Alderney’s internet radio station, at 9.20am on Saturday
