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The States of Alderney are set to vote in new Commissioners to the Alderney Commission for Renewable Energy (ACRE), but one politician wants to reduce the amount of time they’ll have in office.
The future of ACRE has been hotly debated after its one and only licensee fell away in 2017. Alderney Renewable Energy (ARE) funded ACRE through block fees but ended up owing the Commission more than a million pounds in late payments and a confidential Settlement Agreement was made out of court.
It’s this agreement that partly necessitates the need for ACRE to continue to exist, as the States Billet for next month states: “In January 2019, it was considered that ACRE’s role was still required to secure the outcomes of the Settlement Agreement.”
ACRE regulates the development of renewable energy sources in the island by charging licence fees to renewable energy businesses. It was also argued that ACRE needs to retain the ability to determine future applications.
Pictured: Alex Snowdon wants more government oversight of ACRE and to reduce the commissioners post down to one or two years.
Three people have been recommended to become Commissioners and to remain in post for the next five years. A People's Meeting last night saw the public probe the hiring process and ask questions about the candidates put forward for the role.
Notably, questions were asked about the relationship the proposed chair has with the principal shareholder of ARE. The moderator and States member Steve Roberts said he was looking into all matters raised by the public.
It was revealed that six people had applied to the role and four of those had been put before an independent, off-island panel who proposed the final three: Judy Craske (Chair), John Wishart and Ian Corder.
The length of their post has been suggested to be five years, however, a local politician wants to reduce the amount of time the new commissioners would be in post so the States of Alderney would be able to review the work of the Commission.
Alderney representative, Alex Snowdon, said: “As stated in the Billet submission, ACRE has matters such as ‘secure the outcomes of the Settlement Agreement’ to resolve. Reducing the appointment period gives the States of Alderney the opportunity to review performance and outcomes as the future of ACRE is defined with aims and objectives.
“Therefore, the reduction of the period is necessary as the medium and longer-term renewable energy aspirations are established meaning whether ACRE is required to be reviewed, replaced, or abolished. The States of Alderney will be able to analyse the position after one or two years, rather than entering into a 5-year agreement contract for the appointment of commissioners.”
Mr Snowdon has proposed three options for length of term in an amendment to the original item: Option A (up to one year), Option B (up to two years) and Option C (up to five years).
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