Offshore wind farm proposition (FOI)

​​Request 698052410

THE OFFSHORE WINDFARM PROPOSITION

a) the specific electricity generation technology and total electricity generation capacity, 

b. the timetable of when the windfarm system will be available to be installed and fully operational in Jersey plus the anticipated and ongoing maintenance upgrades anticipated over a + 50-year period

c. the forecast cost to build, operate and ultimately decommission the windfarms based on the Lazard’s levelized cost of electricity.

d. the ultimate cost to residents (price per unit of electricity) and companies in Jersey

e. other potential Jersey benefits (employment, technical excellence local development, surplus electricity supply etc) 

f. risk considerations associated with this plan including all environmental concerns

g. map of the area impacted by this proposal including cable transportation plans from windfarm sites to Jersey

h. plans to provide electricity when the wind is not blowing and generating electricity

i. battery and infrastructure needs for Jersey associated with this source of electricity

Response

In April 2024, a debate on offshore wind energy was held and the States Assembly agreed that Jersey should pursue the opportunities arising from the development of an offshore windfarm in the south-west of its territorial waters (see links provided). The Government's proposals for a wind farm in Jersey waters are currently under development and the detail requested is currently not held. Officers are currently drafting necessary policy and legislation to enable the project to be progressed. Article 35 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has therefore been applied to each part (a-i) of the request.   

Further information is available via the following links:    

Offshore wind power (gov.je) 

Offshore Wind consultation (gov.je)  ​

P.82-2023 Offshore Wind October 2023.pdf (statesassembly.gov.je)    

R.47-2024 Offshore Wind Consultation Report March 2024 (re-issue).pdf (statesassembly.gov.je) ​   

Scrutiny Review Panel established to consider offshore wind farm proposals (statesassembly.gov.je)    

States Assembly (statesassembly.gov.je)   ​

Article applied

Article 35 – Formulation and development of policies

The purpose of this exemption is to allow a SPA to perform its function of creating policies without being fettered by the requirement to disclose information about such policies which are in their infancy. This is a qualified class-based exemption and therefore there is no need to conduct a prejudice test but the public interest test still applies.

Public Interest Test 

Article 35 is a qualified exemption, which means that a public interest test has to be undertaken to examine the circumstances of the case and decide whether, on balance, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.  

Although there is a need for transparency, accountability, financial and good decision making by public authorities this information relates to an ongoing situation. The Scheduled Public Authority, and indeed good government, requires Ministers to be provided with full, frank advice from officials about the possible impact of proposed policy, and for Ministers and officials to be able to discuss and test those proposed policies in a comprehensive way.

The following considerations were taken into account:

Public interest considerations favouring disclosure:

• disclosure of the information would support transparency and promote accountability to the general public.
• disclosure to the public fulfils an educative role about the early stages in policy development and illustrates how the department engages with parties for this purpose.

Public interest considerations favouring withholding the information:

• in order to best develop policy, Officers and Ministers need a safe space in which free and frank discussion can take place. The need for this safe space is considered at its greatest during the live stages of a policy. Sharing views is important to ensure that all relevant considerations are taken into account in developing and implementing policy. Disclosure at a time when these views are still being considered would negatively impact the Department's ability to fully consider the informationthe need for this safe space is considered at its greatest during the live stages of a policy
• release of the information at this stage might generate misinformed debate in areas where future options have yet to be finalised. This would affect the ability of officials to consider and develop policy away from external pressures, and to advise Ministers appropriately
• disclosure of this information may limit the willingness of parties to provide their honest views and feedback in future. This would hamper and harm the policy–making process not only in relation to this subject area but in respect of future policy development across wider Departmental business.

Taking into account the various factors, the Scheduled Public Authority decided in favour of withholding the information.