Proposed Energy Developments Legislative Competence Order
Mick Bates
Pre-ballot Information: Outline Proposed Legislative Competence Order
Outline of proposed Order
To amend the relevant field of Schedule 5 to the Government of Wales Act 2006 to make provisions relating to the construction or extension of on-shore generating stations with a capacity of more than 50 megawatts.
Pre-ballot Information: Explanatory Memorandum
Policy Objectives of the Proposed Order
The purpose of this Proposed Order is to devolve the consenting regime for large-scale energy developments to Wales. That is, on-shore projects with a capacity greater than 50MW.
Background
Per head of population, Wales still is still one of the highest polluters in the world and energy generation contributes around one third of CO2 emissions in Wales.
Wales, the UK and the European Union have targets to reduce emissions, yet Wales has made limited progress in this regard. The Greenhouse Gas Inventory shows that since 1990 – the base year on which reductions are calculated under international obligations – carbon dioxide emssions in Wales have reduced by less than 2%. Emissions actually increased by 4.7% between 2005 and 2006 – the latest year for which figures are available.
The devolution of the decision-making process over large-scale energy developments will increase the ability of the Assembly to pursue its own energy policies, set tailored solutions to suit Wales’ needs and secure our energy supply for the future. It will also ensure that Wales can reach its targets on renewable energy and the reduction of CO2 emissions and contribute fully to meeting UK-wide targets.
Support Received
The devolution of the planning process for energy developments greater than 50MW in capacity was a manifesto pledge of The Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Welsh Conservatives for the 2007 National Assembly elections.
Wales Environment Links made a recommendation to the Sustainability Committee’s inquiry into carbon reduction in Wales that “WAG needs to gain planning authority for energy projects with capacity greater than 50MW, in order to achieve full Welsh responsibility over forms of power generation and over carbon emission levels from such generation. WEL therefore advocates that WAG should continue to press for the transfer of planning responsibility for all power generation projects located in Wales, irrespective of capacity.”
Wales Environment Links is a membership organisation representing the views of its constituent members. Those members that signed up to the committee consultation response are:
Butterfly Conservation Wales
Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales
Cylch (Wales Community Recycling Network)
Groundwork Wales
Keep Wales Tidy
National Trust Wales
RSPB Cymru
Snowdonia Society
WWF Cymru
WEL’s response to the Committee’s Inquiry can be found here:
http://www.waleslink.org/documents-for-downloading/wel-consultation-responses/080317%20WEL%20response%20-%20NAW%20Sus%20Committee%20-%20Energy%20Generation%20consultation%20FINAL.doc
