Pathway 2050: Energy Plan for Jersey (R.37/2014)

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A decision made 17 March 2014:

Decision Reference: MD-PE-2014-0023
Decision Summary Title :	Pathway 2050: Energy Plan		Date of Decision Summary:	17th March 2014
Decision Summary Author:	Director of Environmental Policy		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:
Written Report Title :	Pathway 2050: Energy Plan		Date of Written Report:	13th March 2014
Written Report Author:	Director of Environmental Policy		Written Report : Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Subject: Pathway 2050: Energy Plan
Decision(s): The Minister approved the Pathway 2050: Energy Plan and supporting volumes (Appendices and Supporting documents A&B), on 17th March 2014 to be presented as an R.
Reason(s) for Decision: To approve the Pathway 2050: Energy Plan; the document will be presented to the States Assembly in the R series.
Resource Implications: No additional resources are required.
Action required: To request the Greffier of the States to arrange for the Pathway 2050: Energy Plan and supporting volumes to be presented to the States in the R Series.
Signature:		Position: Minister for Planning and Environment
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Pathway 2050: Energy Plan for Jersey (R.37/2014)

Report to the Minister for Planning and Environment

Approval of the ‘Pathway 2050: Energy Plan.

Purpose of the Report

To approve the ‘Pathway 2050: Energy Plan, in order for it to be presented to the States Assembly in the R series.

Background

A key action of the States Strategic Plan 2012-2015 is to ‘introduce an Energy Policy to move towards a low carbon economy, with more renewable energy and energy efficiency’. This stems from Jersey’s requirement under the UK’s ratification of the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. It requires Jersey ‘to introduce, where possible, and having taken into account local circumstances, policies in line with the objectives of the UK Climate Change Programme’.

Policy development and related analytical work has been ongoing since the 2008 Green Paper ‘Fuel for Thought?’ In the interim period considerable work has been underway in respect of a number of energy related work streams including energy efficiency, renewable energy and security of supply. The Pathway 2050: Energy Plan outlines a policy framework of demand management, energy security and resilience, and fuel poverty and affordability. The Plan highlights how a low carbon future may bring new employment opportunities as well as potentially contributing to a more diverse economy.

Information

The Pathway 2050:Energy Plan outlines a potential energy future for Jersey. Alongside the three framework policies it identifies an initial set of actions and interventions to contribute to achieving a reduction in carbon emissions of 80% lower than 1990 levels by 2050. This target is in line with the commitment of other advanced jurisdictions that are also signatories to the Kyoto Protocol including the UK.

The Energy Plan has been subject to 12 months of consultation and scrutiny which has ensured that stakeholders’ comments and concerns have been considered and addressed.

Stakeholders and members of the public were invited to respond to the Energy plan consultation, which ran for 12 weeks from November 2012 to February 2013. The consultation process included presentations to a number of interested groups and also a briefing meeting for all States members. A total of 20 organisations responded to the consultation process and 255 comments were received. 87% of comments received were accepted or noted by the Minister and the proposed changes were made in the final version of the Energy Plan.

The Environment Scrutiny Panel undertook a review of the Energy Plan between May and September 2014. A total of 15 hearings took place with evidence provided by energy providers, energy experts, and representatives of industry, pressure groups and Ministers. The Scrutiny report identified a number of findings to which the Minister has responded; and also outlined some suggested key priorities for action within the next 12 months, which are welcomed.

The final version of the Energy Plan which is being brought forward incorporates the changes made as a result of the extensive consultation and also the Ministers’ response to the Environment Scrutiny Panel findings.

A copy of the Pathway 2050: Energy Plan is attached as a supporting document.

Timetable

It is intended that the ‘Pathway 2050:Energy Plan’ will be implemented with immediate effect.

Resource Implications

The resources required to deliver the initial actions of the Energy plan can be met from the existing cash limit of the Department of the Environment in conjunction with the Central Environment Vote. As delivery of the Energy Plan commences and more detailed studies are carried out, further policy decisions will be required. As and when these are brought forward, their recommendations will be subject to further economic analysis.

Action Statements 3 to 8 within Policy 1 apply to the domestic and business sector and are based on the delivery of a series of energy efficiency interventions. The delivery mechanism will be the extended activity of the Eco-Active Energy Efficiency Service. The costs outlined represent the direct delivery costs, for the first 5 years only, based on the actions as outlined in the Energy Plan, they do not include external costs such as skills based training for the construction sector.

Recommendation

The Minister for Planning and Environment to recommend that ‘Pathway 2050: Energy Plan’ is presented to the States Assembly in the R series.

Written by:	Director of Environmental Policy
Approved by:	CEO Department of Environment