6. What is the Government doing to support the green economy in South Wales East? OQ57088

I outlined in my statement yesterday to the Chamber the Welsh Government’s vision for the green economy and confirmed its fundamental role in the progress of our economic resilience and reconstruction mission.

Diolch yn fawr. During Plaid Cymru's debate last month on the energy sector and the climate emergency, there was a response from your Government that hinted at a positive change when it comes to ensuring that the wealth generated by renewable energy is retained in Welsh communities. There was a reference to, and I quote, 'a deep dive' the following day, to see what barriers can be overcome to increase renewable energy capacity owned by public bodies and community groups across Wales. We really need to see progress in terms of community ownership, as this has been shown to be key, in numerous international examples, in shifting public attitudes towards renewable energy generation. Three weeks on from the so-called deep dive, what update can you give on the efforts to ensure the profits and benefits of energy projects in Wales remain in Wales?

Well, that's work that I'll be undertaking with the Ministers in the department for climate change. As the Member will know, we're really interested in making sure that our obligations to the future of the planet are met, but there is real economic gain to be generated from this as well. And I take on board the Member's point about community engagement and ownership of some of the energy projects moving forward. So, I won't be able to give you an answer today, but I can say that I'll continue to work with Ministers in the climate change department, not just to deliver a better way to generate power that is renewable and doesn't compromise the future of the planet, but, actually, can deliver a real economic dividend for local communities.

Promoting the green agenda is one of the biggest tasks for all Governments in this century. That's why I would like to put firmly on the record the impressive track record of Monmouthshire County Council, which was one of the first local authorities to sign up to the climate change declaration. But, whilst promoting the green agenda, it's vital that the green economy, and, in particular, local businesses and projects, are not neglected, Minister. We've seen in Monmouthshire the immense benefits that can be achieved in this field, most notably around building our own solar farm on council grounds. With that in mind, can you outline specific steps of what the Welsh Government is doing to promote the green economy in Monmouthshire? Thank you.

Well, I can't give, off the top of my head, steps in the green economy in Monmouthshire, but I'm happy to write to you, and I'm sure that the former leader of Monmouthshire council will be delighted to hear you praise their record in the past. But I can say that, when it comes to promoting renewable sources of energy and the economic benefits, it had a significant range of positives, not just in Monmouthshire, of course—today, you will have seen the reports about the solar farm that is helping to power significant resources into Morriston Hospital as well. So, the Welsh Government, in a range of areas, is practically promoting renewable sources of energy and economic return and gain, and I'd be more than happy to give him an update, which I'm sure he's aware of, about such projects within the Monmouthshire constituency.FootnoteLink

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