Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:00 pm on 8 November 2022.
Thank you. Delivering a fair and affordable transition to a low-carbon future means ensuring that there are new, clean, affordable sources of renewable energy for Wales. We also need to grow a resilient economy, in which we can continue to seize and exploit opportunities in those new and green technologies and markets. But, they've got to be underpinned by a mature, innovative and competitive industrial base. I think the words you used, fair and affordable, are really important. The Minister for Climate Change has made it very clear that it has to be a just transition, and that no-one must be left behind.
You'll be aware of our deep dive into renewable energy that was undertaken earlier this year. That really outlined the opportunities that are available. It also discussed the barriers that, of course, are there to overcome, and the proposed actions that we can take if we are going to upscale our renewable energy generation here in Wales. I mentioned in my earlier answer to the leader of Plaid Cymru that the First Minister and I attended a round-table at the Ireland-Wales Forum in Cork with renewable energy producers and developers, and they certainly see the opportunities that we have here in Wales in relation to that.
The Minister for Climate Change has set out policy on the importance of local ownership of energy developments, because I think it's really important that those communities retain those social and economic benefits from hosting new energy-related developments. But, I think it's fair to say we do need the UK Government to step up to the plate and provide a stable environment for that investment, because I remember when solar panels were all the rage, and then they took away the tariff for that. I went to a farm where farmers had put a hydro scheme on their farm, and were very keen to go to the next valley to help a farmer there put one in, but by then the feed-in tariff had gone. So, I think it's really important that the UK Government do step up to the plate in relation to that.