Wind farm costs further to FOI 4660353

Summary

The request sought correspondence and financial data regarding the onshore wind farm project and Earystane plantation land valuation from May 2025 onwards. The Treasury released partial email extracts but withheld specific financial and land valuation details under section 30 exemptions to protect economic interests.

Key Facts

• The request was a supplementary follow-up to FOI reference 4660353.
• Information was requested covering the period from 15 May 2025 to 23 July 2025.
• Manx Utilities confirmed ongoing discussions with DEFA regarding land acquisition and value.
• Duplicated information in the provided email extracts was removed before release.
• The outcome was classified as 'Some information sent but part exempt'.

Data Disclosed

• 4822257
• 4660353
• 2025-07-23
• 2025-09-11
• 15 May 2025
• 21 July 2025
• 15/05/2025
• 29/05/2025
• 23/06/2025
• 15/07/2025
• 10 September 2025
• s.30
• s.30(1)(a)
• s.30(1)(b)
• 11 pages
• 2 documents

Exemptions Cited

• Section 30 of the Act (prejudice to economic and financial interests of the island)
• s.30(1)(a)
• s.30(1)(b)

Original Request

Further to your response dated 21 July 2025 under ref 4660353 I am submitting a supplementary request for any documentation created or received on or after 15th May in connection with the onshore wind farm project (numbering added by Treasury): Part 1 I request disclosure of all correspondence, memos, or briefing notes involving Treasury, MUA or DEFA or external consultants relating to: -the valuation, transfer, or proposed use of Earystane plantation or any other land for wind farm development. -details of discussions regarding land ownership, access rights or compensation Part 2 Any updated treasury papers including appendices and financial models referencing: Projected or committed budget allocation Forecasted or actual expenditure updates on financial risk assessments or procurement strategy Part 3 Minutes or records of the SACIC, Major Projects Board or other relevant interdepartmental groups where the onshore wind farm project or land access issues were discussed.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Part 1 Extracts from emails and relevant attachments 15/05/2025 – Email titled EPB paper r.e. onshore wind

15/05/2025 – Email titled FW: Council update on MU wind

Project Programme

Project cost

29/05/2025 – Email titled FW: Contract management monthly report

Project Programme

s.30 s.30 Project Cost

23/06/2025 – Email titled FW: Onshore wind project

Project Programme

Project Cost

23/06/2025 – Email titled RE: Onshore wind project

Just a couple of property/valuation points that it’d be worth clarifying if I may: • Whilst we have been asked for a valuation by DEFA we can’t supply it until we know what the plans are for the land (as the consideration to be paid will vary depending upon whether there is a significant change of use or not). In this regard will all trees be felled or just pockets to accommodate the turbine locations? What other works will be permanently left affecting the ground/area?

s.30 s.30 s.30 Dupliation of information from 29/05/25 'Project Programme' section Duplication of information from 29/05/25 'Project Cost' section Duplication of information from 29/05/25 'Project Cost' section 23/06/2025 – Email titled RE: Onshore wind project

15/07/2025 – Email titled FW: Onshore Wind Report – Major Projects Board

Project Programme

Project Cost

Andrew – I’ll check regarding the Earystane valuation, though my understanding is that the turbines

s.30 Dupliation of information from 29/05/25 'Project Programme' section Duplication of information from 29/05/25 'Project Cost' section Duplication of information from 29/05/25 'Project Cost' section

Freedom of Information
Seyrsnys Fysseree

The Treasury Government Office,
Douglas Isle of Man, IM1 3PU

Telephone: (01624) 685605 Email: FOI.Treasury@gov.im

Government Website: www.gov.im

Our ref: 4822257 10 September 2025

Dear ###,

We write further to your request, received 23 July 2025, which states:

"Further to your response dated 21 July 2025 under ref 4660353 I am submitting a supplementary request for any documentation created or received on or after 15th May in connection with the onshore wind farm project (numbering added by Treasury):

Part 1
I request disclosure of all correspondence, memos, or briefing notes involving Treasury, MUA or DEFA or external consultants relating to:
-the valuation, transfer, or proposed use of Earystane plantation or any other land for wind farm development.
-details of discussions regarding land ownership, access rights or compensation

Part 2
Any updated treasury papers including appendices and financial models referencing:
Projected or committed budget allocation
Forecasted or actual expenditure
updates on financial risk assessments or procurement strategy

Part 3
Minutes or records of the SACIC, Major Projects Board or other relevant interdepartmental groups where the onshore wind farm project or land access issues were discussed."

Our response to your request is as follows:

Part 1

Please find attached Appendix 1 which includes extracts from emails and relevant attachments, from on or after 15 May until the date of your request. Please note some information has been duplicated and has been removed as follows – Duplication of information…. In addition to this Manx Utilities have confirmed that discussions are

ongoing with DEFA in relation to the proposed acquisition and value of the land and proposals for site readiness should the scheme progress.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance some of the information is exempt from disclosure under section 30 of the Act as disclosure would be likely to prejudice the economic and financial interests of the island, under s.30(1)(a) and s.30(1)(b) of the Act.

Some of the information in appendix 1 refers to financial information, the land for the wind farm development and ongoing decision making. The nature and the severity of the prejudice if this information were to be released is explained in the following two paragraphs.

Manx Utilities is a Statutory Board of the Isle of Man Government and their financial position is inextricably linked to Government finances and as a result to the taxpayer. Significant effects on cost whether positive or negative will have an impact on the economy. Disclosure of financial information from the emails and relevant attachments will influence a fair and open tender process offering a commercial advantage to any potential bidders to inflate bids resulting in detriment to Manx Utilities and ultimately taxpayers. Not disclosing this financial information guarantees a fair, open and transparent tendering process to ensure best value to Manx Utilities and taxpayers for this proposed publicly owned project. Therefore this ensures the most efficient administration of government finances and minimises the cost to the taxpayer.

The onshore wind farm project is an ongoing, publicly owned project which involves a number of Government Departments and a Statutory Board. All parties involved in the project need a safe space to discuss the project, including exploring options and making decisions for the benefit of the project. If the specific information from the emails and relevant attachments were to be disclosed this would be likely to affect the ability to deliver the scheme within the required timeframe and increase the costs of the project. Which is not in the economic interests of the Island. Similar to the financial information not disclosing this information ensures the most efficient administration of government finances and minimises the cost to the taxpayer.

As section 30 is a qualified exemption, it is subject to a public interest test. The public interest must be something that is of serious concern and benefit to the public at large.

Factors in favour of disclosure • Disclosure would allow scrutiny of the financial information and detail what public money is involved allowing the public to hold Government to account for their management of public funds. • To promote public transparency and confidence of decision making within all parties involved in the delivery of this project. • To allow full scrutiny of the actions of all parties involved in the project and be held account for all decisions made. • There is a legitimate interest in this scheme. • Disclosure of the information would promote public understanding of the decisions being taken and the different stages of the project. • Disclosure would build trust, transparency and enhance the reputation of Manx Utilities and the Treasury.

Factors in favour of withholding • The underlying purpose of these exemptions as applied are to protect the

economy. • Disclosure could result in economic instability. • Disclosure could result in financial instability for the Authority, for Government and for taxpayers. • Disclosure would be likely to affect a fair, open and transparent tendering/bidding process which is required to achieve best value of public funds. • Disclosure will make commercially sensitive information available to potential participants within the tender process offering them a commercial advantage. • Releasing the information would be likely to affect the ability to deliver the scheme within the required timeframe and increase the costs of the project.
• The project is still live and parts of the project are still being developed which significantly increases the impact of disclosure.

In taking these factors into account the Treasury determined that the factors in favour of maintaining the exemption outweigh the factors in favour of disclosing the information.

Part 2

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Treasury does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested. Therefore as previously advised, we need to apply a practical refusal reason to your request under section 11(3)(a) of the Act (information not held).

The reason for this is because no further Treasury papers, relating to the onshore wind farm, have been submitted to the Treasury Board on or after 15 May until the date of your request.

Part 3

Please find attached Appendix 2 which includes extracts from minutes of Strategic Asset and Capital Investment Committee (SACIC) and Major Projects Board in relation to the onshore wind farm project, from on or after 15 May until the date of your request.

Section 20 (Information accessible to applicant by other means) An exemption under section 20 of the Act is engaged in relation to some of the minutes within appendix 2.
These minutes have previously been published as part of another FOI response and can be accessed using the link below and searching for case ID 4739249. The information is located on page 2 of the document titled appendix 6.
https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/search

Please note, in relation to the previously published minutes, Manx Utilities have reviewed and found that the asset life and associated costs are aligned, and that these factors have been duly considered. Section 30 (Economy and commercial interests) (1)(a)&(b) – the economic and financial interests of the Island Some of the information subject to disclosure contains specific financial information which is exempt from disclosure under section 30 of the Act, as disclosure would be likely to prejudice the economic and financial interests of the Island.
The financial information is commercially sensitive because disclosure of the information will influence a fair and open tender process offering a commercial advantage to any potential bidders to inflate bids resulting in detriment to Manx Utilities and ultimately taxpayers. Manx Utilities is a Statutory Board of the Isle of Man Government and their financial position is inextricably linked to Government finances and as a result to the taxpayer. Significant effects on costs whether positive or negative will have an impact on the economy. Not disclosing this financial information guarantees a fair, open and transparent tendering process to ensure best value to Manx Utilities and taxpayers for this proposed publicly owned project. Therefore this ensures the most efficient administration of government finances and minimises the cost to the taxpayer.
In addition to the financial information there is further information which is also exempt from disclosure under section 30 of the Act, as disclosure would be likely to prejudice the economic and financial interests of the Island,
The information is commercially sensitive because if it was to be disclosed this would be likely to affect the ability to deliver the scheme within the required timeframe and increase the costs of the project, which is not in the economic and financial interests of the Island. Therefore not disclosing this information ensures the most efficient administration of government finances and minimises the cost to the taxpayer.
As section 30 is a qualified exemption, it is subject to a public interest test. The public interest must be something that is of serious concern and benefit to the public at large.

Factors in favour of disclosure • Disclosure would allow scrutiny of the financial information and detail what public money is involved allowing the public to hold Government to account for their management of public funds. • There is a legitimate interest in this scheme. • To promote public transparency and confidence of decision making within all parties involved in the delivery of this project. • To allow full scrutiny of the actions of all parties involved in the project and be held account for all decisions made. • Disclosure of the information would promote public understanding of the decisions being taken and the different stages of the project. • Disclosure will increase trust in all the parties involved.

Factors in favour of withholding • The underlying purpose of these exemptions as applied are to protect the economy and the financial interests of the Island. • Disclosure could result in economic instability. • Disclosure could result in financial instability for the Authority, for Government and for taxpayers. • Disclosure would be likely to affect a fair, open and transparent tendering/bidding process which is required to achieve best value of public funds. • Disclosure will make commercially sensitive information available to potential participants within the tender process offering them a commercial advantage. This would undermine reputation and trust. • Releasing the information would be likely to affect the ability to deliver the scheme within the required timeframe and increase the costs of the project. • The project is still live and parts of the project are still being developed which significantly increases the impact of disclosure. • Disclosure would adversely impact other public departments and their activities within the process and potentially burden them with extra requests for information.

In taking these factors into account the Treasury determined that the factors in favour of maintaining the exemption outweigh the factors in favour of disclosing the information.

Section 30 (Economy and commercial interests) (2)(b) disclosure would or would be likely to , prejudice the commercial interests of a person (including the public authority holding it)

Some of the information which is subject to disclosure relates to financial information and the governance process. The Treasury is satisfied that this information is commercially sensitive because its disclosure would likely to prejudice the reputation and confidence in the publicly owned project, which is being progressed by Manx Utilities. Accordingly an exemption to disclosure under section 30 of the Act is engaged as disclosure would likely to prejudice the commercial interests of Manx Utilities.

As section 30 is a qualified exemption, it is subject to a public interest test. The public interest must be something that is of serious concern and benefit to the public at large.

Factors in favour of disclosure • Disclosure would allow scrutiny of the financial information and detail what public money is involved allowing the public to hold Government to account for their management of public funds. • There is a legitimate interest in this scheme. • To promote public transparency and confidence of decision making within all parties involved in the delivery of this project. • To allow full scrutiny of the actions of all parties involved in the project and be held acco

[Response truncated — full text is 20,171 characters]