What’s next for energy policy in Wales?

26 March 2024 | Admin

As the dust settles, Quatro reflects on the appointment of a new Welsh Cabinet and what it means for the energy sector.

After a very close contest, Vaughan Gething has emerged as the new First Minister of Wales and Leader of Welsh Labour. Though reasonably temperate and cordial between the two contenders, the leadership contest was fraught with controversies, mainly pertaining to Gething. As he assumes office, extending olive branches and unifying the party is high on the agenda. The majority of Senedd Members supported Jeremy Miles, but Gething’s conciliatory appointments to the Cabinet will go a long way to unify the party. Miles himself has received a significant brief in the form of Secretary of State for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language.

Overall, Gething seems to have put the contest aside and has played to the strength of individual Cabinet members, ensuring that there is a wealth of experience in his top team.

A new First Minister

Though he has overseen several briefs since his election in 2011, Gething’s main tenure has been as Economy Minister and Health Minister and so he will need a strong team driving the agenda on renewable energy development. This may account for the Climate Change and Energy roles now being separated out between Jeremy Miles and Huw Irranca-Davies.

During the leadership contest, Gething pledged a number of energy commitments, including a review of the planning system to give greater speed and certainty for major renewable energy projects, which aligns with UK Labour policy, as well as to support the devolution of the Crown Estate. Gething has also pledged to enhance education and training in green skills to ensure that Welsh people are equipped to meet the demands of the future. A concerted, government-led effort to encourage further education colleges to provide training in green skills is long overdue.

With some commentators questioning Gething’s judgement following the lobbying and donation controversy that overshadowed the leadership campaign, he will likely be keen to push forward with these reforms.

In February, it emerged that Gething had received a campaign donation of £200,000 from David John Neal, who had previously been convicted twice of environmental offences as the Director of two companies, Atlantic Recycling and Neal Soil Suppliers. The following month BBC Wales reported that it had obtained letters written by Gething in 2016 and 2018 to Natural Resources Wales requesting that it ease restrictions on Atlantic Recycling.

Economy, Energy and Welsh Language

Working closely with Gething in the newly created Economy, Energy and Welsh Language brief, will be Jeremy Miles. Miles’ appointment will be welcome news to many in the sector, as will the combination of Economy and Energy in the same brief, in recognition of how central energy policy is to the Welsh economy. Miles is a strong supporter of renewable energy and will be looking to streamline the planning system and reform the community benefit model, scaling it up so that it has a “national impact and economic significance, so that local communities can feel they have more of a share” as he pledged in his leadership campaign.

Climate Change and Rural Affairs

Recognising that addressing climate change is the best way to protect the rural environment, Huw Irranca-Davies is now the Secretary of State for Climate Change and Rural Affairs. Irranca-Davies will be seen as a capable addition to the Cabinet having previously served on the back benches for a significant period. Though the responsibilities of this new role are not clear, Irranca-Davies will seek to be a strong supporter of rural communities and farmers and will likely look to mitigate flood risks and climate related emergencies.

In short, this is an exciting time for the energy sector. Fresh, eager eyes on the planning process and a new legislative agenda to follow the work of Mark Drakeford and Julie James. A streamlined decision-making process for major projects could have huge benefits for the renewable energy industry, and all eyes will be on the new ministerial team as they seek to implement Vaughan Gething’s vision.