The chairman of Manx Utilities says no peat removal is planned for the proposed Earystane windfarm site.
John Wannenburgh addressed the issue in Keys, responding to concerns raised by Jason Moorhouse about potential peat disturbance.
“Peat cutting specifically refers to the harvesting of peat for fuel. This practice has been banned on the island since 2020,” Mr Wannenburgh said.
“No wind turbines would be located on peatland. All of the turbines were relocated within the footprint of the existing plantation, and existing access tracks would be used for the development.”
Deposits
Mr Moorhouse, however, cited a 2024 FOI request that identified peat deposits at the site, arguing they could impact infrastructure.
“The FOI request referred to peat deposits and suggested they could impact turbines, roads, and infrastructure,” he said. “They sound much more numerous than the Chair is making out.”
Mr Wannenburgh maintained that only “small pockets of peaty soils” had been found and avoided in the design.
He also referenced the Manx Peatland Partnership’s flood mitigation efforts, stating, “These measures retain water in upland areas, which in turn protects wet peatlands.”
Pressed on the distinction between peat and peaty soils, Mr Wannenburgh said details would be clarified in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). “All the information he wants is going to be covered in the EIA,” he said.
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