The Draft National Development Framework 2020-40

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs – in the Senedd at 1:58 pm on 9 October 2019.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Rhun ap Iorwerth Rhun ap Iorwerth Plaid Cymru 1:58, 9 October 2019

(Translated)

Given the climate emergency, we must increase the amount of electricity we produce from renewable sources. We also need public support for that. The draft framework identifies a significant area of Anglesey that should be considered as a priority area for the production of solar and wind energy. The research is based on erecting turbines of up to 250m. If we think about the tallest things on Anglesey, the Marquess’s column is only 106m, the old Anglesey Aluminum chimney is only 122m, the highest land in Anglesey, Holyhead Mountain on Holy Island, is only 220m. Given the low-lying nature of Anglesey, it’s totally obvious that suggesting turbines of this scale, or anywhere near that scale, is totally inappropriate. Yes, there is scope to consider small-scale wind that is appropriate to the landscape, but does the Minister realise that all that’s happened here, if truth be told, is that fears have been raised and people have been angered? Will she give an assurance that the Welsh Government will withdraw that threat? But also, with so much scope for Anglesey to produce renewable energy at sea, both tide and wind, which isn’t even mentioned in the framework, does the Minister see that that is best way of producing more renewable energy and getting public support for that?