7. Will the First Minister make a statement on the potential for wind and solar energy in mid-Wales? OAQ54413

We meet half our power needs from renewable energy, and we must identify further resources to meet the growing need for low-carbon heat and transport. Welsh Government is working with other public sector organisations in Powys to develop a carbon-positive strategy for the county that maximises clean energy production.

Thank you for your answer, Minister. I am someone who also believes that we do need to invest in renewable technologies, and we also need to have a mixed basket of forms of renewable energy solutions.

I was disappointed that the consultation on the national development framework was published during the Assembly recess. I do think that we as AMs need to scrutinise those proposals in detail. You'll appreciate that I and many of my constituents are particularly concerned about the acceptance of landscape change that would be applicable to large parts of Powys that are included within the proposals. You'll appreciate that we have beautiful landscapes in mid Wales and thousands of jobs and businesses depend on that scenic mid Wales landscape. So, I am concerned that there is that acceptance of landscape change detailed within the draft proposals. I'm also concerned that there's no mention of how the power that would be produced would be connected to the national grid. That's also not mentioned within the proposals for the NDF. But can I ask you, Minister, how genuine of a consultation is this in terms of listening to constituents in mid Wales? And what analysis have you done with regard to the effect on the tourism economy of mid Wales if the proposals, as in your consultation, go forward?

This is a genuine consultation, and I know that the Minister for Housing and Local Government is really keen to hear all views and from everybody who has an interest in this. We've been proactive in terms of holding consultation events, so there was one in Newtown on 17 September, and there were between 30 and 40 people attending there. I know that a briefing session was held on the NDF on 19 September that you and other Assembly Members were able to attend in order to have a factual briefing as to the implications for different areas from planning officials. You'll be meeting with Julie James to discuss the NDF on 16 October, and she's indicated that she's very happy to meet with all Members who have a particular interest and particular approaches that they want to make on behalf of their constituents.

Insofar as the connection to the grid is concerned, we do need a robust, fit-for-purpose grid that enables our low-carbon energy objectives to be delivered. But it has to be delivered in a way that is not detrimental to the surrounding environment. So, our priority is to ensure that the grid is developed in a way that meets the current and future needs of Wales whilst meeting the imperative to decarbonise heat and transport and increase resilience, particularly in rural areas. But we would expect this to rely primarily on connections on wooden poles rather than pylons.

Finally, question 8—Rhianon Passmore.