Chief Minister Chris Thomas backs release of offshore wind farm lease

Chris Thomas, who has just been chosen as Chief Minister, has told MHKs he wants the lease for a proposed offshore wind farm in Manx waters to be made public. He said legal advice will determine how much of it can be disclosed.

According to Manx Radio, he made the commitment in the House of Keys this week. He and fellow candidate Kirrie Jenkins were taking questions from members ahead of the vote that elected him.

Garff MHK Richard Henthorn asked both candidates whether they would fully back authorising release of the agreement for lease without redactions, so that newly elected members could inspect it. The Department of Infrastructure holds the document under the Marine Infrastructure Management Act.

Mr Thomas had said in his manifesto for the chief ministership that the lease should be published. He told the chamber: “I mean that.”

He went on: “Whether this will be unredacted will depend on legal advice. An alternative might be making it available for private inspection by MHKs.”

Mr Thomas also said that some details of the agreement had already been disclosed, Manx Radio reported. Those details came in written answers to questions he had put since 2024.

The agreement dates from 2015 and was amended in 2017. Under it, Dong Energy Island UK Limited holds seabed rights until 2030 to explore building an offshore wind farm. Those rights are conditional on obtaining the required consents and fulfilling its contractual obligations. The Dong business now trades as Orsted.

The proposal’s examination stage ended on 9 September, according to Manx Radio. The examination body then has 60 working days to send its recommendation to the Council of Ministers.

Ministers must publish the report as soon as is reasonably practicable.