Guernsey Electricity MD Ian Watson, left, shows UK Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks, centre, around the Vale Power Station with Public Services minister and Energy Policy Steering Group chairman Bernard Flouquet. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0599839)

GUERNSEY’S energy policy has received a ringing endorsement from the UK Energy minister, Malcolm Wicks (pictured).

It came just two days after the Policy Council’s energy policy report was noted by the States and the island began a host of work streams aiming to cut its carbon emissions by 30% in the next 12 years.

‘Guernsey is very much on the right track from what I’ve seen,’ said Mr Wicks, a former Elizabeth College pupil. The minister was in the island yesterday touring the power station and described Guernsey’s aims along with those of the UK as a ‘green revolution’.

In the UK, the government has unveiled plans to build an extra 4,000 onshore and 3,000 offshore wind turbines to achieve a national target of 15% renewable energy by 2020. ‘This is not just a small challenge that we are contemplating but a bold and ambitious step to produce a considerable amount of energy from renewables,’ said Mr Wicks.

At this stage the States has decided not to invest directly in large-scale renewable energy products, but instead to set up a Guernsey Renewable Energy Commission, which is tasked to come forward with plans for generation. However, Mr Wicks believes Guernsey is perfectly placed to achieve this through tidal power.