Panel to scrutinise off-shore windfarm plans

Public hearings will be included in the review of legislation for a windfarm, seen here in a mock-up supplied by the Jersey government

A scrutiny panel will review ministers' plans for a windfarm in the sea off the south-west coast of Jersey, the States says.

The government has been drafting laws which would outline how the island could build turbines to generate power offshore.

The panel would review these before they went to the States for a vote, it said.

Deputy Hilary Jeune, the island's former energy and climate change minister, will lead the review.

The States said the panel would look at "conditions and requirements" to be considering as part of legislation.

Once the draft legislation had been lodged, it said the panel would launch a "full and formal review", including public hearings.

The panel would prepare for this by "building its knowledge base" and would remain in place to "review future proposals", it said.

Deputy Jeune, chair of the Offshore Wind Review Panel, said: "This is a highly significant proposal for Jersey and we have to consider fully the opportunity and risks – both economic and environmental.

"While we wait for the government to bring forward its proposed legislation, we are conducting research and gathering information to inform ourselves."