We Can do Even More

The Green Party says it applauds the gov’s plan for building renewable power sources for the island, but wants to see it go further.

Chief Minister Alf Cannan has announced the gov will introduce 30 megawatts of renewable energy (wind and solar) to the grid by 2026.

As well the gov’s plans, the Peel Group has announced plans for a 27 megawatt solar farm at Billown in Malew, with the party saying these announcements ‘indicate a significant shift away from fossil fuels and towards island based renewable energy’.

It added: ‘It is anticipated that the plans will only be the beginning for the large-scale adoption of renewable energy that will ultimately see energy bills fall, residents and business being better protected from volatile fossil fuel markets, and, if prioritised, the island achieving its international and domestic commitments to reduce carbon emissions.

‘This is a change that the Isle of Man Green Party has long called for and we welcome that the government has finally now adopted our position.’

Paradox

It may not have escaped your attention that the island is somewhat windy, despite this, the Green Party says the island is ‘heavily dependent on fossil fuels (75% in 2020) or foreign imports (38% in 2021) for electricity generation’.

The Party said: ‘The announcement by the government sees an indication that the Cannan administration has finally accepted that the data of the falling price of solar, wind, and batteries cannot be ignored any longer.  Figures from the think tank RethinkX indicates that between 2010-2020, the price of solar, wind, and batteries fell in the region of 82%, 46%, and 87% respectively.  In 2023, that trend indicates that the costs of installing solar, wind, and batteries can be cheaper than continuing to run already existing fossil fuel plants.’

Future

Despite welcoming these developments, the Green Party wants to see the gov go further and allow wider adoption of green energy outside of taxpayer investment.

The party is proposing that the island follow the ‘UK’s adoption of permitted development orders for small scale, domestic wind turbines within appropriate parameters’.

It also recommends that the gov should provide new guidance for the adoption of larger, onshore wind turbine proposals and called on it to ‘set out its plans for the installation and scaling-up of grid scale batteries to improve the management of grid balancing’.

Meeting

The Green Party is hosting a meeting on energy and policy next Tuesday February 21, from 7pm at the Columba Club, Circular Road, Douglas. The meeting is open to the public and new ideas on a sustainable future for the island are welcomed.