Renewable Energy

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs – in the Senedd at 1:31 pm on 3 February 2021.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 1:31, 3 February 2021

Thank you. I absolutely agree about the enthusiasm of communities when they have a small-scale renewable energy scheme in their area. Certainly, one of my happiest days in this portfolio was when I opened a very small hydro scheme up in Corwen, in north Wales, where a lady told me very proudly that every time she switched her kettle on, she knew she was contributing, from the scheme that had been set up with her assistance. Again, around hydro schemes particularly, I think we've seen certainly farmers looking to have one on their land. And, again, up in north-west Wales, there was a very good one—unfortunately, because the UK Government then took away the feed-in tariff, when he wanted to have another one, he didn't feel it was worth while. So, I think we need to continue to press the UK Government to bring in feed-in tariffs too. When I set the targets around renewable energy—the different targets by 2030—I thought they were very ambitious. But we have made some really significant progress this term, and it might be worth revisiting to see if we could more ambitious.