OUR CITY AND THE GREEN ENERGY REVOLUTION

Our city, Newport needs to directly benefit from the green energy revolution, with our deep water port and our highly skilled,  experienced and adaptable workers, we have massive advantages.  Thats why our city should be at the forefront of the development of off-shore wind, tidal lagoons, tidal turbines and a revisited Usk river barrage. 

It’s been almost 29 years ago since the proposed Usk barrage was rejected by, then Welsh Secretary and later Conservative leader, William Hague, our city needs a second chance by making good use of its natural position and its skills to thrive and prosper. Since then our city has largely been neglected and ignored by government at all levels - it’s time for change. 

Newport as a port city, lies the river Usk, a river with the third highest rise and fall of tide in Wales, with its history of manufacturing and heavy industry, should be well placed to benefit for the development of tidal lagoons to the west and the east of the city and the harnessing of some of the tide energy potential of the Severn estuary - with a combination of tidal turbines, waves power, off shore wind, and an Usk river barrage to harness our rivers energy potential and to focus redevelopment on our city’s river.

The concept of Green Jobs and the economic contribution that they can make to our communities and to the Welsh economy is now well recognised by most people. Our coastline and our maritime and energy resources will remain a largely untapped resource for the foreseeable future.  The prototype tidal lagoon should have been a first step towards making Wales a world leader in a new and innovative technology with the potential to power our future. 

The ongoing failure to start work on the Swansea Tidal lagoon is a perfect demonstration of why Wales needs to gain greater control over its own future. We can no longer not afford the luxury of Westminster continuing to hold back our country’s potential for developing renewable sustainable energy sector and the related skills that could make Wales a world leader. 

Westminster has consistently denied fair funding and the tools (the powers) to reshape and reboot our economy, whether with Conservative, Conservative-Lib Dem or Labour Governments, which would have enabled a government in Cardiff to invest to create well-paid jobs in Wales. 

Renewable energy development (and green collar jobs that should come with it) has the  potential to create renewable and sustainable non nuclear energy supply, which can bootstrap our economy, cut carbon emissions and also development energy supplies  that are not dependent on imported oil and gas from the unstable Middle East and the Persian gulf and Russia.

We have a double problem, firstly we have a Labour dominated Senedd that’s bereft of ambition, ideas and the tools to do the job, and at times seems to be busy redefining the concept of inert, and secondly Westminster ( whoever is in charge ) is just simply not interested in making Wales thrive, or allowing Wales to acquire the powers that could make Wales a world-leader in the development of renewable energy technologies and also to generate the technologies and jobs that go with it. 

THE ABSENTEE LANDLORD

The news about the developers being chosen to develop off shore wind energy fields of our coast is actually some good news. That said, once again Wales will receive little or no benefit from the economic exploitation of its own natural resources, except this time the waters are off-shore rather than inland or underground. Why should the fees go to the Crown and the UK Treasury? And not to Wales? 

The Welsh Government should (but won’t) insist that decisions about the use of Wales’ natural resources should be made in Wales for the benefit of Wales. Even without devolved powers they should been able to set up a Welsh national energy company immediately to develop our own Welsh-owned sector and have  at least explored the  possibilities of setting up an embryonic sovereign wealth fund for receipts, rents received, etc.

The two companies - BP and EnBW ( described by the BBC as a German energy firm)  have been chosen as the preferred developers for a major new wind farm off the north Wales coast. Both companies are effectively the preferred developers for a 500 square kilometre lease, situated approximately 30 kilometre off the north Wales coast, and another 300 square kilometre site east of the Isle of Man. These off shore  wind farms have the potential to generate enough power for 3.4 million homes. 

Now what is worth noting in passing is that EnBW is over 90% owned by the regional government and local authorities of Baden-Wurttemberg - not they you will find any reference to that on the BBC. It is doubly ironic that the Scandinavian State-owned Vattenfall and Statkraft and largely State-owned EDF mean that citizens of other countries will own more of Wales' renewable sector than we do ourselves (and also benefit from it).

The Welsh Government has understandably stated that it is looking forward to working with the two companies. The devil, as they say, lies in the detail or perhaps in the case the literal small print, once you get beyond the spin. Understandably the Westminster government, has called this development a "major vote of confidence in the UK's green economy and net zero ambitions”. 

Now that’s all very well and good. However, it gets more interesting the further you delve, it turns out that it is the Crown Estate, not the Welsh government, which manages the seabed around Wales, as it does with the seabed of England and Northern Ireland, has also announced six proposed new offshore wind projects.

The auction of seabed rights - which was the first of its kind in a decade - apparently attracted frenzied bidding. Both the projects will now move onto the next stage in the lengthy process for acquiring rights to build out at sea - which involves assessing the potential impacts on habitats and wildlife.

The Crown Estate expects this to conclude in Spring 2022 and subject to the outcome the developers could then be granted an agreement for lease and be able to start getting their projects through the planning process - including consulting with local communities. With luck and hard work the projects could begin to generate electricity by the end of the decade.

Beyond being either a willing or a reluctant minor partner the Welsh Government has little choice in the matter but to co-operate. Of course once our nation achieves independence, then there will be no question, of course, of the Crown Estate auctioning off development rights with no direct benefit then to the people of Wales. This deal clearly  demonstrates that Wales' marine energy potential is of international significance.

The Crown Estates, plays the role of barely mentioned absentee landlord, in Cymru / Wales. As far back as March 2012  a report produced by the then Scottish Affairs Committee (in Westminster) stated that the Crown Estates management of the marine environment around Scotland lacked transparency and public consultation. 

The Crown Estate's owns portions of our coast, almost all the seabed, and some of the land beneath our feet - little appears to have changed in relation to the lack of transparency and the lack of public consultation . It owns around 65 per cent of the Welsh foreshore and riverbed, and inland, and also owns around 27,800 hectares (68,700 acres) of Welsh common land, owns the rights to the sites of fish farms, renewable energy developments, ports and marinas.  

The Westminster government (post BREXIT) if it believes in ‘local control’ should commit to having the Crown Estate's seabed and marine responsibilities and all rights related to Wales devolved to the Welsh government. Those who have dealt with the Crown Estates on a regular basis are often highly critical of the Crown Estate - back in 2012 the then Scottish Affairs Committee (in Westminster) heard that the organisation effectively behaved like an "absentee landlord" and "tax collector".

The revenues do not belong to the monarch and surplus revenue from its businesses are paid each year to the Treasury. The Crown Estates revenues in Cymru / Wales are not vast at the moment, but, the assets have what could best be described as game changing potential. That's why control of these marine and and coastal assets particularly in the case of renewables and off shore wind generated hydrogen could our nation to opportunity to reboot our economy and make a significant contribution to fighting global climate change.

Our energy and water resources including the responsibility for sewerage for the whole territory of Wales should be the responsibility of the Welsh Government. The Crown Estate still remains largely unaccountable to the people of Wales and all profits from its holdings (which includes on and off shore wind farms) are passed to the UK Westminster Government. Profits from these holdings are likely to grow significantly mostly due to the growing demand for renewable energy. 

For way too long our natural resources have been run for the benefit of others with few real or lasting benefits trickling down to the people of Wales. Ownership and control over the Crown Estates in Wales should be transferred to the Welsh Government. The final say on how our natural resources are exploited and developed should be the direct responsibility of the Welsh people (and the Welsh Government) with 85% of the profits or dividends directly benefit the people who live here rather than opaque absentee landlords. 

OUR NATIONAL ENERGY COMPANY

Plaid Cymru Senedd Member for Ynys Môn, Rhun ap Iorwerth, has today set out how his party’s plans to create a national energy company - Ynni Cymru - located on Anglesey would boost the local economy and help Wales reach its climate change targets.

Ynni Cymru, an energy project development company, would follow a model similar to Transport for Wales or the Development Bank for Wales.

Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said Wales has huge potential in zero carbon electricity generation, and that the new body would spearhead such developments, bringing benefits to local communities and Wales as a whole, whilst helping us meet our environmental obligations.

 

The Plaid Cymru Senedd candidate for Ynys Môn added that a Plaid government would commission a national inventory of green energy potential – an Energy Atlas – to identify possible new projects and developments. 

 

Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said:

 

“Wales has a vast amount of natural wealth but we need to reap those benefits for local communities, for Wales and for our environment.

 

“That is why a Plaid Cymru government would establish a national energy company for Wales – Ynni Cymru – that would give us greater control over electricity generation. 

 

“I am delighted that a Plaid government would locate Ynni Cymru on Ynys Môn where there is huge untapped potential in terms of natural resources and where local communities would benefit from the economic boost of a new development coming to the island. 

 

“It would be responsible for mapping out an Energy Atlas – a national inventory of green energy potential that will allow us to identify opportunities to develop new Welsh firms and community energy projects. 

 

“Tidal energy, off our southern and northern coasts, including the exciting projects off the Anglesey coast, would form a major part of this, as well as mapping green hydrogen potential and increasing offshore wind generation.

 

“A Plaid government would also be committed to ensuring all new renewable energy projects are at least partly owned by the local community. 

 

“These are ambitious but workable plans that will help Wales tackle the climate emergency whilst creating high-skilled, well-paid jobs as part of a sustainable economic recovery.”

 

ENDS

NEWPORT AND THE GREEN ENERGY REVOLUTION

Newport needs to directly benefit from the green energy revolution, with our deep water port and our highly skilled,  experienced and adaptable workers, we have massive advantages.  Thats why our city should be at the forefront of the development of off-shore wind, tidal lagoons, tidal turbines and a revisited Usk river barrage. 

It’s been almost 24  years ago the proposed Usk barrage was rejected by, then Welsh Secretary and later Conservative leader, William Hague, our city needs a second chance by making good use of its natural position and its skills to thrive and prosper. Since then our city has largely been neglected and ignored by government at all levels - it’s time for change. 

Newport as a port city, lies the river Usk, a river with the third highest rise and fall of tide in Wales, with its history of manufacturing and heavy industry, should be well placed to benefit for the development of tidal lagoons to the west and the east of the city and the harnessing of some of the tide energy potential of the Severn estuary - with a combination of tidal turbines, waves power, off shore wind, and an Usk river barrage to harness our rivers energy potential and to focus redevelopment on our city’s river.

The concept of Green Jobs and the economic contribution that they can make to our communities and to the Welsh economy is now well recognised by most people. Our coastline and our maritime and energy resources will remain a largely untapped resource for the foreseeable future.  The prototype tidal lagoon should have been a first step towards making Wales a world leader in a new and innovative technology with the potential to power our future. 

The ongoing failure to start work on the Swansea Tidal lagoon is a perfect demonstration of why Wales needs to gain greater control over its own future. We can no longer not afford the luxury of Westminster continuing to hold back our country’s potential for developing renewable sustainable energy sector and the related skills that could make Wales a world leader. 

Westminster has consistently denied fair funding and the tools (the powers) to reshape and reboot our economy, which would have enabled a government in Cardiff to invest to create well-paid jobs in Wales. Renewable energy development (and green collar jobs that should come with it) has the  potential to create renewable and sustainable non nuclear energy supply, which can bootstrap our economy, cut carbon emissions and also development energy supplies  that are not dependent on imported oil and gas from the unstable Middle East and the Persian gulf and Russia.

We have a double problem, firstly we have a Labour dominated national assembly that’s benefit of ambition, ideas and the tools to do the job, and secondly Westminster is just simply not interested in making Wales thrive, or allowing Wales to acquire the powers that could make Wales a world-leader in the development of renewable energy technologies and also to generate the technologies and jobs that go with it. If we can do this then we can have a New Newport and a New Wales.