North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has told the new Labour Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs that new fossil-fuel-powered production in Wales is not an ‘either/or’ choice and warned “that failure to accept and plan for the risks risks leaving people cold, hungry, thirsty and exposed to life-threatening instability”.
Questioning the Cabinet Secretary in yesterday’s meeting of the Welsh Parliament, Mr Isherwood, said:
“Also questioning the First Minister about this yesterday, I noted that the International Energy Agency defines Energy Security as ‘the uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price’; that current levels of energy technology and infrastructure necessitate back-up for intermittent renewable energy, which remains dependent upon fossil fuels, predominantly gas, for rapid response and to balance demand, particularly when wind and solar outputs are low; and that this is likely to remain the case for much of the transition period to a carbon-neutral future, and it would be a disservice to the public to pretend otherwise.
“I then asked him how the Welsh Government proposes to ensure energy security during the years of transition to a carbon-neutral future. In his response, and as you indicate, the First Minister said there is a ‘presumption against new fossil-fuel-powered production in Wales’.
“How do you therefore propose in your new role to address the technological and scientific reality that this is not an ‘either/or’ choice, and that failure to accept and plan for this risks leaving people cold, hungry, thirsty and exposed to life-threatening instability?”
In his response, The Cabinet Secretary said:
“For our part, the just transition to net zero is at the very heart of this Government; it's embedded throughout everything we do. We will ensure workers and consumers are front and centre in the net-zero transition and that the people of Wales benefit. But, to be absolutely clear, we do need a secure, affordable energy supply and a sustainable industry in Wales”.
Speaking afterwards, Mr Isherwood added:
“His focus on virtue signalling rather than answering my question was both irresponsible and worrying”.