Latest news with #CairVie
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Onshore wind farm project within budget
The initial costs of an onshore wind farm project have been higher than expected but the scheme is still within budget, the chairman of Manx Utilities has said. John Wannenburgh MHK confirmed £3.14m had so far been spent on "predevelopment costs" for the Cair Vie project at Earystane and Scard in the south of the Isle of Man. Although "additional survey work" was required after environmental scoping feedback, the government-owned firm believed the plan remained "financially viable", he said. Concerns were raised about "rising costs" in the House of Keys on Tuesday, with calls for the project to be scrapped or moved to another site. The proposed plans, which would see up to five turbines built in the area able to deliver a quarter of the island's annual electricity needs, are part of the government's commitment to decarbonise the island's energy supply by 2030. There were calls by Chris Thomas MHK for the scheme to be moved as the current £40m projected cost was in line with that outlined previously for a scheme at Sulby and Druidale in the north of the island. Jason Moorhouse MHK questioned if the cost of the project had "almost doubled" when compared to paperwork issued by Manx Utilities in July 2023 that put the price of the scheme at £23.5m. In response, Wannenburgh said that lower figure had been the "indicative" price of the components needed at the time, but not the full cost of the overall project. He said predevelopment costs for onshore wind farms were typically 10% to 15% of the overall spend. That had so far covered ecological surveys, feasibility work, consultants, project management and network connection investigations, he said. It had also involved engaging with stakeholders, and the additional ecological surveys, which were underway following feedback on the environmental scoping report. The £40m overall figure was "consistent" with the original costs outlined by Manx Utilities in July 2023 and it would be "irresponsible" to stop the process and relocate, he said. "We must see the process though from where it is, and we will make final decisions when the final environmental impact assessment is reported," he added. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X. Renewed call for rethink over onshore wind farm Wildlife surveys begin on onshore wind farm plans New ferry terminal opens its doors Fears raised for wildlife over onshore wind farm Concerns raised at southern wind farm meeting Plans for onshore wind farm in south to progress Wind farm project likely to cost about £40m Manx Utilities - Cair Vie onshore wind farm project Tynwald - House of Keys
BBC News
02-05-2025
- BBC News
Renewed call for rethink over Isle of Man onshore wind farm
A pressure group opposed to the development of an onshore wind farm in the south of the Isle of Man has called for the project to be halted over fears for local follows a French court ruling that saw the companies behind a wind farm in the country responsible for the deaths of 160 rare birds at the Jenkins of Cair Vie Resistance said the case should act as a "wake up call" for Manx Utilities (MU) and the island's which plans to built four turbines in Earystane Plantation as part of the government's commitment to move to net-zero emissions, said it was "following due process". The Criminal Court of Montpellier found French firm EDF Renewables, along with nine other companies, was responsible for the deaths of 160 protected birds at a wind farm in the rulings, the court fined each of the firms €500,000, of which €250,000 was suspended, and ordered the suspension of activity at the site for four convicted have launched the Isle of Man, the proposed Cair Vie wind project is expected to generate a quarter of the island's annual electricity needs. 'Wrong place' Ms Jenkins said that while the court ruling was for a 31 turbine farm in France, it applied to the Isle of Man with the proposed site being on a bird migratory route as well as an internationally recognised important area for argued that it was "not green energy if it is affecting our biodiversity" and it was "irreplaceable species" that would be for the re-evaluation of the plans following the court ruling, she said the proposed Cair Vie development was the "wrong project in the wrong place".In a statement, MU said it was conducting "comprehensive environmental impact assessments and implementing effective mitigation measures".It was "important that the island continues to enjoy its security of supply and maintains its independence; whilst also moving away from imported fossil fuels and stabilising energy prices for the island community", the government-owned utilities provider authority's design and mitigation approach would be "reviewed by independent experts as part of the planning process", it added. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
