I’m very pleased that the Assembly has come together, hopefully, to express its support for the concept of tidal lagoon energy. I do fully understand why the Government is not in a position to give direct support to a single project, but I would like to place on record that Plaid Cymru is content to do so—and is in a different position, of course—and can state that we are in favour of the Swansea bay tidal lagoon as a pathfinder, as explained in the Hendry report.

Like some hundreds of local people, I have invested in the tidal lagoon and, to that end, I do have an interest in that as one the community shareholders. There are hundreds like me, and I very much hope that in due time the Government will also invest in the tidal lagoon, and we’ll turn to that a little later in the debate.

First of all, let’s see what the Hendry review stated. I haven’t read a review into difficult issues in Westminster that has been so clear in its conclusions for some years, I must say. It states very clearly that after years of debate, the evidence clearly demonstrates that tidal lagoons are cost-effective as part of the energy mix of the UK; it make that point very clearly. It also says clearly that the UK Government faces a strategic decision as much as an economic one, and it also states clearly that moving forward with the tidal lagoon in Swansea bay as the first one, as a pathfinder project, as it is described, is a policy that could not be regretted—it’s a no-brainer, in other words. And I think in that context we now want to see a positive response, possibly as soon as the budget in March, from the Westminster Government.

We see this as something that is a game changer for the energy industry in Wales, and prepares the way for the future in Wales. For the first time since the early days of wind energy, it gives Wales an opportunity to be in the vanguard in terms of new technology, and of course as the Cabinet Secretary’s just outlined, it gives us an opportunity to see similar developments across the Bristol channel and also in north Wales. But it’s also true to say that Hendry is looking at this project as something that could be used a template to see the impact on the environment and on fisheries, to see whether we can actually get the energy in the way that we would want, and whether it’s true that the turbines work effectively and efficiently in that context.

In that context, there is general support—there are questions, of course, but there is general support—which has been expressed by a number of environmental organisations from Friends of the Earth to the RSPB, who are all eager in this context, where we’re already burning fossil fuels along the Bristol channel, which pollute the environment, to see something more positive and cleaner being introduced. So, as a catalyst for the development of the rest of the sector, and to put Wales in the vanguard of this new technology, and also as something that will be in and of itself a huge boost to the Swansea bay area, I very much hope that the Assembly today will support the motion, and send a clear message to the Westminster Government to respond positively to the concept of a tidal lagoon.

It will create over 2,000 jobs during its construction, and will also generate over £300 million in GVA in the Swansea bay area. The Welsh Government, of course, have to respond to this challenge. They will need a skills strategy in order to ensure that we take full advantage of these opportunities. The company behind the lagoon have pledged that at least half of the funding will be spent in Wales, and that’s out of a capital spend of over £1.3 billion. And the tidal lagoon, once completed, will produce enough energy for 90 per cent of homes in the Swansea bay area for over a century. So for me, and for Plaid Cymru, this is something we should support.

Rwy'n meddwl bod yna un pwynt olaf yr hoffwn ei wneud, sef y gallai hwn fod yn gyfle enfawr i ni ddefnyddio fframwaith y DU er ein budd ni yma yng Nghymru. Mae dadansoddiad diweddar yr ydym wedi edrych arno ar y fframwaith rheoli ardollau, sydd ar hyn o bryd yn golygu bod Cymru yn elwa ychydig mwy na'n cyfran o’r boblogaeth oherwydd y ffaith bod gennym dariffau bwydo i mewn ac ynni adnewyddadwy ac yn y blaen, yn dangos y byddwn, o fewn 10 mlynedd, wedi lleihau ein cyfran o’r fframwaith rheoli ardollau hwnnw i lai nag 1 y cant o’r gwariant a ragwelir. Mae hynny oherwydd bod y fframwaith rheoli ardollau hefyd yn cynnwys tân glo, a bydd hwnnw wedi mynd erbyn 2025, ac wrth gwrs, nid oes gennym unrhyw ddatblygiadau mawr newydd o ran gwynt ar y tir yn dod yn weithredol yn y cyfamser. Felly, gallwn ddefnyddio hynny er mwyn i Gymru elwa.

Pe byddai, er enghraifft, Llywodraeth Cymru yn cymryd cyfran ecwiti o fewn y morlyn llanw ym mae Abertawe, byddem wedyn yn cael y ffi honno’n ôl o werthiant y trydan dros lawer o flynyddoedd, sy'n rhywbeth y mae Llywodraeth y DU yn cytuno ag ef ac yn ei gefnogi. Felly, unwaith eto, mae'n benderfyniad hawdd i gefnogi hyn o ran newid yn yr hinsawdd, o ran cynhyrchu ynni, o ran buddsoddi ym mae Abertawe, ond mae hefyd yn benderfyniad hawdd inni i gyd i fod yn rhan o hyn a bod yn rhan o ddyfodol ynni.