IW meeting with the Sec. of State for Energy & Climate Change yesterday went well. He was clearly keen to get alternative green jobs into the IW asap, after I made yet another plea for positive Govt. action for the IW's social and economic regeneration post-Vestas.
Development of tidal energy in the Solent, and a scheme for 'rotawave' technology, potentially delivering at least 300 Island jobs, will be subject to further urgent Govt. expert investigation before support grants are made available. He will also look into Govt. support to upgrade some of the available wharfage on the Medina river, which is integral to much of the renewables agenda.
He was quizzical about the Island's absence of any onshore windfarm and stressed this had been a real niggle for Vestas when they decided to shut down blade production.
He wants to be kept in the picture about a possible offshore blade production that has recently come into the picture, with the potential for 1000 jobs.
Overall he was very supportive and he thanked me afterwards for keeping him well advised on the post Vestas situation.
Finally, contrary to the CP's hysterical headline today the decision to insist on an environmental impact assessment for the Ventnor Golf Club wind turbine application was NOT made by him, but by some official at GOSE. When he was told of this yesterday he was aghast and will be looking into it urgently. Good journalism might have checked with his office before condemning him. However, that would require balance.......
1 comment:
Well done for your part in this, Geoff.
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