Part of 1. 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure – in the Senedd at 1:33 pm on 15 June 2016.
I concur fully with the comments already made on tidal lagoon and, the potential for Wales, economically and as a world-class leader in this source of energy creation. The Cabinet Secretary will know that major energy infrastructure is often defined in terms of energy generation, but I want to ask the Minister what longer term thought is being given to energy efficiency as a major energy infrastructure. The Welsh Labour Government is to be commended for its steadfast support of energy efficiency initiatives targeted at domestic customers and businesses, and at public sector organisations; the increased investment in the Welsh Government Warm Homes initiative, helping to tackle fuel poverty; the information, advice and support through Resource Efficient Wales; support for businesses through Business Wales, and so on, and so on. Yet the Welsh Government know more than most—in fact, they mention it in their recent strategy—that the gap between our ambition and reality on energy efficiency will take some bridging. So, does the Cabinet Secretary see any role for defining energy efficiency as major infrastructure as one way to bridge that gap, tackle fuel poverty, help decarbonisation by reducing the need to build more power stations, and generating capacity?