Offshore wind proposals for the Dorset coast

Dorset County Council has welcomed publication of further details of a potential wind farm development off the Dorset coast.

The Crown Estate, which owns most of the UK's seabed, has today announced its preferred developers for nine offshore wind farms to help the UK generate 15% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020.
Eneco, the largest energy supply company in the Netherlands, has been named as the chosen developer for the West of the Isle of Wight zone, located off Dorset's Jurassic Coast. The £1 billion development could involve the creation of hundreds of green jobs that could benefit some of Dorset's most recession-hit areas.
Portland Port could be a major beneficiary if chosen as the centre for the assembly of the wind turbines. Construction of the wind farm is expected to take up to five years and could create between 100 and 300 new onshore jobs, with a further 2,000 people potentially employed at sea. A development on this scale would also have significant impacts on the environment, both positive and negative, which will need to be assessed before any development can go ahead.

Dorset County Council cabinet member for environment, Hilary Cox, said:
"The development of offshore wind offers significant opportunities for Dorset and the UK to meet our climate change and economic objectives. We welcome the fact that further clarity is emerging about potential schemes. We are particularly keen to ensure that local communities are consulted about any proposals and that the positive benefits are maximised and any negative impacts are fully addressed."
 

More information can be found on the Crown Estate website.