Residents from Laxey, Ramsey and further afield attended the first two events in a series of community consultation sessions about Ørsted’s Mooir Vannin Offshore Wind Farm.
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The events – held at Laxey Glen Pavilion and Ramsey Courthouse on Thursday and Friday last week – provided a chance to find out about the potential it has to provide the Island with secure, renewable energy for decades to come, plus economic, employment and community benefits. The Mooir Vannin Offshore Wind Farm team were there to answer questions, guide visitors through information shown on display boards, and to show what the wind farm could look like by using virtual reality headsets and still photos. The computer-generated video and stills were created following a full Visual Impact Assessment, and public feedback about these images will help inform the design proposals that Ørsted aims to put forward as part of a planning application next year. The first two events are part of a comprehensive community consultation and engagement process which runs until 11th September this year. Anyone who is unable to attend the events can access a virtual experience at orsted.im/mooirvannin/virtual-town-hall and ask questions or express their views via mooirvannin.commonplace.is
John Galloway, Ørsted Development Director for the Isle of Man, said: “We’re very pleased with the response to the first two events, and the inquiries we have received via email and our online consultation portal. It’s clear that there is a lot of interest in and enthusiasm for the Mooir Vannin Offshore Wind Farm, in particular how it would provide additional Government revenue, jobs and other local economy benefits, plus the possibilities created by our Community Investment Fund. Meeting people face to face really helps us to understand how we can work with the local community, as well as addressing questions and concerns people may have as we develop our proposals and work towards submitting a planning application next year. We must say a big thank you to everyone who took the time to meet us last week. For everyone who was not able to attend and has an interest in the Mooir Vannin Offshore Wind Farm, we encourage them to meet us at the three events we’re holding in August, or express their views online, via email or by post.”
The three August events are as follows:
The monetary benefit to the Isle of Man would depend on the size of the project, and an agreement (which is yet to be finalised) with the Treasury regarding what taxation and royalty regime they would like to implement for the 35-year operational lifetime of the Mooir Vannin Offshore Wind Farm.
In addition to revenue going to Isle of Man Government, the project (which would be entirely funded by Ørsted) would also create more than 30 full-time jobs here on the Island and open the door to new career opportunities for future generations. Ørsted also plan to set up a Community Investment Fund which would give £1.5million per year for the first 15 years the wind farm is in operation. This funding would go directly to projects, community causes and infrastructure schemes which benefit everyone.
Information about proposals for the Mooir Vannin Offshore Wind Farm - plus details about how to ask questions and express opinions - can be found at mooirvannin.commonplace.is. Feedback can also be given via email to mooirvannin@orsted.com, or by writing to Ørsted, The Old Courthouse, Athol Street, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 1LD. Large print, audio and braille versions of the booklet are available on request by writing or emailing using the same addresses. This week’s events follow on from similar drop-in sessions held in Laxey and Ramsey last month.
To find out more about the Mooir Vannin Offshore Wind Farm go to orsted.im/mooirvannin