Sustainable energy and Government actions during this term

2026.07.14

19.8   Deputy H.L. Jeune of St. John , St. Lawrence and Trinity of the Chief Minister regarding

what  renewable  energy,  incentives  and  Government  actions  shall  be  prioritised. (OQ.57/2026)

Following his nomination speech where he spoke about the importance of sustainable energy and committed to focus on this, will the Chief Minister advise which types of renewable energy, incentives and government actions will be prioritised during this term?

Senator L.J. Farnham (The Chief Minister):

The Minister for the Environment has overall responsibility for energy policy and is continuing to develop an evidence-based energy strategy for Jersey in accordance with the decision of the Assembly, P.11/2025 as amended. That work is intended to provide a long-term framework that balances affordability, energy security, market competitiveness and Jersey's carbon reduction commitments. As part of that work, Government will consider the role that proven renewable energy technologies can play in Jersey's future energy mix, including offshore wind, solar, tidal, alongside wider issues such as energy resilience, electricity demand and storage and grid capacity. The strategy will also consider what incentives may be appropriate to encourage the uptake of renewable and low carbon technologies, recognising that any such measures must represent value for money and be supported by robust evidence. Alongside the energy strategy, the Government will continue to support practical measures that improve energy efficiency, reduced reliance on fossil fuels, encourage the electrification of transport and heating where appropriate, and strengthen Jersey's long-term energy security. While it would be premature to pre-empt the conclusions of the energy strategy, I can assure the Deputy and Members that the Government remains committed to delivering a secure, affordable and sustainable energy system that supports Islanders, businesses and our environmental ambitions long into the future.

19.8.1   Deputy H.L. Jeune :

I thank the Chief Minister for his comprehensive answer. Would the Chief Minister say what specific financial incentives would he encourage the Minister for the Environment to introduce such as grants, loans or others for households or businesses for renewable installations? When will the Islanders be able to access these or be able to see these come into fruition and will it become part of the next Budget 2027?

Senator L.J. Farnham :

Those are all matters for consideration as part of the strategy. I do not have a list. Some of the things we have tried have worked very well; I think some have been poorly targeted. We need to make sure that our environmental journey leads us to where we want to be, but it has to be supported by Islanders so we have to have the right incentives. The incentives are not just paying Islanders to reduce their carbon footprint but it is also making sure that the implications and, dare I use the word, regulation in front of our new Minister for Planning and Regulation, is practical, affordable and realistic for Islanders moving forward. I know the Minister for the Environment is already thinking in advance about the best way to do that. What I will undertake to do is ensure the Government works closely with Scrutiny. I think this needs to be as joint a piece of work as we possibly can. There should be no tension here, there should be no juxtaposition, we should all be working towards what we want to achieve, not least given I know what we do here will have very, very little impact on the globe. We are now suffering our third heatwave in as many months, so I think that is a wake-up call to all the citizens of this planet. If everybody plays their part we should make some progress.