DUP MP Sammy Wilson has hit out at proposals for an off-shore wind farm between Northern Ireland and Scotland.
The East Antrim MP has said there must be a commitment from the Government that GB Energy should not fund a proposed wind farm that could damage the views from the Giants Causeway.
Irish state-owned utility ESB won the rights to develop a 100-MW floating offshore wind in 2023. It will lie approximately 14 miles southeast of Islay and 15 miles north of Portrush and should be operational by 2031.
Speaking after raising the issue at Northern Ireland Questions in Parliament the DUP MP said: “As part of the Government’s pursuit of net zero and with the claim that energy prices will be reduced, they have established GB Energy, an expensive quango with £8.3billion of funding.
"One of the projects which is likely to apply to GB Energy is the proposed off-shore windfarm, adjacent to the Giants Causeway. That part of our coastline is a key jewel in our tourism industry and it would inevitably have a very damaging impact on the World Heritage Site at the Causeway.
"It is disappointing that the Government could not give a straight answer today that GB Energy would not support such a project, which would effectively sacrifice our tourism industry in pursuit of the government’s plans.
"Given the economic damage already imposed by this Government there needs to be a clear commitment that they would not oversee further damage through GB Energy funding such a development.”
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