Alderney’s seabed could be transformed by tidal turbines. (0662928)

PLANS to harness the island’s tidal power resource have dominated the agenda this week.

A well-attended public meeting about the project, which detailed plans to bring the scheme forward by two years, confirmed people’s enthusiasm to harness electricity offshore from Longis Bay.

However, making sure the people of Alderney benefit from this truly mind-blowing plan quickly came to the fore.

After Gordon Fitton, chairman of the Alderney Commission for Renewable Energy, suggested the island could expect to earn between £3m. and £7m. a year, one member of the audience said the figures were too low and only a tiny fraction of what the developers would earn.

Mr Fitton did not divulge the exact details of the agreement the States signed with developer Alderney Renewable Energy in 2005, but said it was difficult to say how much the island would earn at the present time.

Quite frankly, one would require a crystal ball to have any idea of what Alderney is going to gain from the scheme in future, if anything at all.

Tidal turbine technology is in its infancy, a pilot scheme is months away from even beginning and a cable to transport the power generated from the sea to the island still needs to be sourced, bought and built. And this is all before anyone has even agreed to buy what may or may not be produced.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all in favour of tidal energy. It is magnificent, not to mention mesmerising, that Alderney seems to be in a position to provide millions of people with environmentally friendly energy from a potentially limitless source.

However, I can’t help but feel there’s a sting in the tail and I’m not sure whether the sting will cause a tiny scratch or prove fatal.

There is a worry that the States has been outmanoeuvred by richer and more knowledgeable folk. That is not a dig at the island’s politicians – it is simply a concern shared by numerous people on the ground. Quite frankly, the feeling would remain whoever our 10 politicians were.

It is likely the States will agree to advance the project by two years at its next meeting on 10 November, especially after prominent members Richard Willmott and Colin Williams suggested they were in favour of the scheme during Tuesday’s meeting.

I just pray the advice the States has received from ACRE and ARE is sound.

I also pray the States and ACRE have made sure the island receives its deserved pound of flesh if our tides turn out to be tinged with gold.