The Welsh Assembly Government’s ‘Energy Policy Statement’ is a brazen and ambitious attempt but based on current record will do little to change our energy landscape, according to Welsh Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on the Environment and Sustainability, Mike German AM.
“After two years of consultations, discussions and hard work from all stakeholders, the Welsh Government Energy Policy Statement is a disappointment” says Mr German. “It is a brazen and ambitious attempt by the Government but is low on firm plans and specific actions and is full of warm words and rhetoric that we have heard before.
“The Welsh Government has set itself an ambitious target for Wales to produce twice as much renewable energy as we consume by 2025. This is achievable, but on their current record I have no confidence that it will be achieved. The Welsh Government has failed to reach its 2010 target to produce 10% of our electricity from renewable sources, reaching only 4.4% in 2007 compared to 2.8% in 2000, so I have little faith they will reach even more ambitious targets for the future.
“The Welsh Government remains on the fence on nuclear power, passing the buck on decision making to the UK Government and the new Infrastructure Planning Commission. The energy statement leaves us in no doubt that the IPC will govern energy development in Wales, but provides no clarity on whether the Welsh Government will promote or protest in nuclear negotiations.
“We need clarity over the Welsh Government’s nuclear policy and whether we should believe the Labour Environment Minister who is against nuclear power or the Plaid Cymru Deputy First Minister who supports new nuclear in Anglesey. We need to know how Welsh planning policy with integrate with the new IPC and be assured that Wales still has a firm hand to influence our energy landscape in the future.
“The Welsh Liberal Democrats are opposed to nuclear power and believe the massive investment requirement would be better spent on increased energy efficiency, cleaner use of fossil fuels and the rapid expansion of renewables, which can deliver low carbon energy quickly, safely, cheaply and reliably.
“As a party the Welsh Liberal Democrats have engaged at all levels and with stakeholders to develop a plan for the Severn Estuary which we believe balances the need to harness this resource with maximum reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and minimum damage to the environment and habitats. We support the swift development of a ‘Shoots Barrage’, which could carry a high speed rail link, the development of a pilot lagoon and more significant research into alternatives such as the Tidal Reef which could be built further out to shore. Together these measures could produce as much electricity as a Severn Barrage, but on an incremental basis and could start producing electricity much sooner.
“The Welsh Liberal Democrats share the ambition to be zero carbon by 2050 but despite all the promises and plans under this Labour-Plaid Government we have yet to see the growth of green industries in Wales. With the right incentives economic development and renewable energy can go hand in hand to provide thousands of jobs and help us to become a world leader in clean energy and green technologies. We must make use of our abundance of clean energy sources and develop the green jobs, skills and manufacturing bases to meet the demand and opportunities of a low carbon future.”
