6. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on renewable energy developments in Mid and West Wales? OQ61197

Mid and West Wales is playing a key part in the progress we make towards our renewable energy targets, with 18 MW commissioned in 2022. The Majority of this is delivered through small, locally owned installations. Our collaborative approach will ensure we maximise community benefits for communities in Mid and West Wales.

Thank you very much, Minister. You'll be very well aware of the strong feelings throughout the region that I represent about renewable energy projects, and specifically wind energy. Nant Mithil in Radnor, Bryn Cadwgan in Carmarthenshire, Waun Maenllwyd in Ceredigion and Esgair Galed in Montgomeryshire—beautiful names in rural areas. But all of these schemes, and others that I haven't named, are owned by developers outside Wales. Now, Plaid Cymru of course is supportive of renewable projects in order to tackle the climate emergency, but the need for more green energy doesn't mean that we should accept this green rush unconditionally. And, as you know, what concerns us in terms of our history is that the profits from our natural resources have flown out of our communities into the pockets of capitalists who contribute nothing to the Welsh economy. In consideration of this, could I ask you what's your vision to ensure that communities across Wales can secure real profits and benefits from the huge potential that we have in the renewable energy sector?

The point that the Member makes is an important one, and there is a resonance to it in terms of Wales's contribution to the energy needs of the world, and the point that he makes that the profits and benefits are often enjoyed outside of Wales. I think that fundamental point is an important one. We do have targets that we've changed to be more ambitious in order to ensure that there is an element of local ownership in terms of developments in renewable energy, and I also accept the point that making that work is an important part of the way we can make the case to communities to accept investment in the renewable energy sector in their localities. That's an important part of that picture.

We do have work ongoing with Ynni Cymru, of course, but I also think that we need to look more ambitiously again at how we can ensure not just financial benefit for the community but an element of ownership so that communities literally have a stake in those developments. I think that is the economic aim, but it's also going to be something that will allow us to expand the sector in a more practical way too.

Before I call John Griffiths for question 7, I just need to remind Members that, if you have a tabled or supplementary question you're seeking to ask, you do need to be in the Chamber for the entirety of the question session to listen to the ministerial answers and any questions raised beforehand. There are several guilty parties in the Chamber today on this, so I'm going to call everybody for today, but I don't expect it to follow on from today. So, question 7—John Griffiths.