Call for referendum on wind farm proposal garners hundreds of signatures

Concerns over bird safety, blade recyclability and Island scenery fuel calls for a public vote

A petition calling for a public referendum on the proposed installation of a wind farm in the Isle of Man is gathering attention, with signatories citing concerns over visual impact, environmental consequences, and long-term sustainability of energy.

The petition, started by John Anslow, describes the Island’s landscape as “pristine” and warns that the proposed wind development would be “visible across the entirety of the southern side”, potentially altering the natural character of the area.

It also raises issues around wildlife, referencing figures from the British Trust for Ornithology which suggest up to 300,000 die annually in the United Kingdom as a result of wind turbine collisions.

Visual and ecological impacts of wind energy are widely discussed across the British Isles.  A 2025 report in The Guardian noted efforts to reduce bird mortality by painting one of the turbine blades black, with early trials suggesting this may cut bird deaths by up to 70 percent.

Meanwhile, concerns persist about the recyclability of wind turbine components.  Although some blades currently end up in landfill, research is underway into mechanical and chemical recycling.

The petition also refers to a decline in turbine efficiency over time, citing a figure of 1.6 percent annually.  While no citation is attributed to this figure, Manx Radio has located a paper by two Imperial College London researchers which states “wind turbines are found to lose 1.6±0.2 percent of their output per year, with average load factors declining from 28.5 percent when new to 21 percent at age 19.”

Central to the petition is a call for a public vote on the matter. However, any attempt to trigger a referendum on the Isle of Man would face legal and procedural hurdles.

The Island’s Referendum Act 1979 remains the only legislation governing such a process, and a 2024 research and scrutiny report from the Office of the Clerk of Tynwald concluded that the law is outdated:

“The Act does not feature provisions on how to deal with the outcome of a referendum.

“As there has never been a referendum held in the Isle of Man under this Act (or any other Act), there is also no precedent for how to deal with the outcome.”

The report further notes that a referendum may only be held following a resolution of Tynwald, and any legislative change arising from such a vote would still need to pass through the standard legislative process.

The most recent attempt at a referendum by a Tynwald member was in July 2024, when Chief Minister Alfred Cannan pushed for a public vote on assisted dying legislation - though this was narrowly defeated.

In the same month, Douglas Central MHK Chris Thomas was given leave to introduce a Bill which would address the provisions for holding referendums on the Isle of Man.

A link to Mr Anslow's petition can be found HERE.