May I welcome today’s statement, in general terms, by the Cabinet Secretary because it has put more meat on the bones from her statement back in December of last year? Certainly, we can now see specific figures and targets in terms of renewables, and specifically renewable electricity. Just to give some context here, we have just had the best summer ever in terms of renewable energy throughout the whole of the UK. Between 21 June and 22 September, 52 per cent of the electricity consumed throughout the UK came from renewable and low-carbon sources, and 24 per cent came specifically from purely renewable sources. So, the increase is very substantial indeed, and the impact is very positive too. Four years ago, in the summer of 2014, 491g of carbon dioxide per kilowatt hour were produced. Now, this year, that had been more than halved—or more than halved, I should say—to 216g. So, it’s a positive impact in terms of climate change and in the carbon dioxide emitted. That’s the context in which the Minister makes her statement.

May I start with the figures and the targets that were announced today? Plaid Cymru, in 2016, stood on a manifesto of producing 100 per cent of electricity from renewable sources by 2035. Today, we see a target of 70 per cent by 2030. Now, 70 per cent isn’t 100 per cent and it falls short of the target that we hoped to achieve within five years of that date, but it is an improvement, and we now have a figure. We can now scrutinise the Government, but also assist the Government, because I want to be in a position in Plaid Cymru to support these things and to encourage Government to do more wherever possible. So, I very much hope that she will keep that figure under review and will take the opportunity, as has happened in Scotland, to enhance the target if necessary or if possible, so that we can move this process apace. She will recall that we have seen a significant price drop in terms of wind energy over the last year or two, and solar over the past five years, which means that perhaps even more financial efficiencies can be made as we develop this further.

The second thing that she mentioned, which I warmly welcome, is this principle of community ownership. I very much hope that we will see that delivered. In my view, much of the opposition that we see to renewable energy development sometimes emerges from the fact that people feel that it has been done to them, rather than them being part of the project from the very outset, and community ownership is of huge assistance in getting over that problem. There are some people who will oppose for opposition’s sake, of course, but it certainly helps in disseminating information and support. I’m disappointed that the Cabinet Secretary hasn’t decided to adopt one of our ideas, namely the concept of an independent energy company for Wales—something such as ‘Ynni Cymru’ or ‘Energy Wales’—as something that could bridge the gap between the community, the Government and the commercial side of things, as a vehicle that could take ownership of some of these developments on behalf of the local community. What I’m asking, therefore, is, as there is a consultation on community ownership, has the door been closed entirely on this concept of an energy company for Wales, or is that something that could be discussed again in the consultation on ownership?

The third point that I wanted to mention is the issues of the grid. Unless we see significant improvements—and not just improvements, but a transformation of the grid—then we won’t be able to achieve some of the targets and the vision outlined in the statement. I welcome the fact that the Government wishes to work with the owners of the grid and those responsible for the national grid, but I also recall that the Government itself—. The statement blames the Westminster Government from time to time, but this Government was also responsible for preventing grid developments in mid Wales because the Government dragged its feet and got cold feet because so many people had opposed those improvements. That certainly stopped two or three onshore wind energy proposals that would have been developed if it weren’t for that and would have contributed significantly to the targets that we currently have. So, I very much hope that the Cabinet Secretary, on this occasion, will—well, not oppose—but will be willing to be robust and innovative in the face of any opposition to making proper improvements to the grid.

I regret that there are no specific targets for heat either. I hear what the Government has had to say on that. Can the Cabinet Secretary confirm that it is her intention to develop targets in due time for the heat system, and also for transportation? The decarbonisation of transport is exceptionally important in the bigger picture. It means, in my view, that we need to invest in infrastructure for electric vehicles. We’ve heard some discussion on that already this afternoon, but I would like to see the Government being more innovative still in investing in our infrastructure for electric vehicles, and I would like to hear her comments on developing targets on infrastructure in that regard.

Os caf i orffen—llawer o gwestiynau, llawer o bwyntiau, yn y datganiad hwn, os caf ddweud hynny. Ond ychydig o bwyntiau terfynol, yn gyflym iawn: croesawaf y ffaith y bydd rhagdybiaeth datblygu a ganiateir o blaid solar pen tŷ a dŵr. Hoffwn iddi ystyried a ddylid ymestyn hyn i ddatblygiadau gwynt ar y fferm, ac rwy'n siarad yn benodol am dyrbinau gwynt sy'n uniongyrchol gysylltiedig â gweithgareddau fferm, nid yn unig ar gyfer gwerthu trydan masnachol, oherwydd gellir ymdrin â hynny mewn ffordd wahanol. Ond rwy'n credu y byddai yn dderbyniol iawn, ar ôl Brexit, i lawer o ffermwyr yng Nghymru pe bai dull datblygu a ganiateir i ddatblygu gwynt ar y fferm, a chredaf y byddai'n helpu llawer o ffermwyr i wneud eu busnesau yn fwy hyfyw.

Rwy’n gorffen gyda'r pwynt olaf yr ydym wedi bod yn ei drafod ynghylch yr angen am y morlyn llanw ym Mae Abertawe fel arloeswr, fel y nodwyd yn glir yn adolygiad Hendry. Rydw i'n un o'r buddsoddwyr cymunedol yno, ynghyd â channoedd o bobl leol, sydd am weld hyn yn cael ei wneud. Rydyn ni’n credu y gall ynni adnewyddadwy nid yn unig ddigwydd a bod yn rhan o'n cymysgedd ynni yng Nghymru, ond gallwn fod yn arwain y byd, yn enwedig yng ngoleuni ynni'r llanw. Rwy'n croesawu'n fawr yr hyn sydd eisoes wedi'i gyhoeddi ar gyfer Ynys Môn a Sir Benfro o ran meysydd ynni'r llanw i'w datblygu. Ond mae'r morlyn ynddo'i hun yn brosiect sy’n barod i fynd, ac rwy’n annog y Llywodraeth hon a Llywodraeth San Steffan i roi'r golau gwyrdd iddo.