National Assembly committee backs call for ‘level playing field’ with other parts of the UK on energy policy
17 October 2013
A National Assembly for Wales committee is backing calls for Wales to have the same or similar powers and responsibilities as other parts of the UK regarding energy policy and planning.
In a follow-up report to one published last year, the majority of the Environment and Sustainability Committee supported the Welsh Government’s position that consent for large-scale onshore and offshore energy-related products should be devolved to Wales, along with Renewable Obligation Certificates and Feed-in-Tariffs which are used to provide financial support for renewable energy generation.
The Committee expressed concern that the UK Government rejected such proposals in its submission to part 2 of the Silk Commission which is looking at the issue of powers devolved to Wales.
The UK Government submission goes further and calls for the responsibility for “associated development” with Nationally Strategic Infrastructure Projects to be taken away from local planning authorities in Wales and placed with the Planning Inspectorate, with ultimate responsibility resting with the UK Secretary of State.
The Committee was particularly concerned with this view.
“Energy generation is one of the UK’s highest priorities over the coming years,” said Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas AM, Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee.
“Achieving the nirvana of affordable, sustainable energy which meets the demands of the modern world is fiendishly difficult.
“But Wales finds this task hampered further by virtue of the fact that it does not have the same or similar levers available to it as other parts of the country.
“The UK Government’s belief that powers regarding nationally strategic infrastructure projects should ultimately lie with the Secretary of State is most concerning, and one wonders whether it would take a similar approach with the other devolved nations.”
The Committee also examined the feasibility of energy generation through unconventional gas noting the UK Government’s belief that shale gas has the potential to provide the UK with greater energy security, growth and jobs.
It concluded that the development of another carbon intensive energy industry at this time is not appropriate and cannot be reconciled with EU and UK commitments to reduce emissions.
However given the UK Government’s position and the fact that licences for exploration already exist for parts of Wales, the Committee considered it to be even more important that the Welsh Government should follow the example in England and issue some detailed planning guidance for dealing with planning applications for the exploration and exploitation of unconventional gas.
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas said: “We have not heard any convincing evidence to suggest a change to the view that the development of another carbon intensive energy industry at this time is appropriate to EU and UK commitments to reduce emissions.
“We also still have some concerns that the safety issues relating to hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, have not yet been adequately addressed and believe it is important that Natural Resources Wales urgently clarifies its position.”
“The Committee has resolved to continue examining the issue of energy policy and planning throughout the current Assembly.”
More information about the Environment and Sustainability Committee can be found here.