Environment Secretary Responds To UK Government’s Contracts For Difference

Responding to the UK Government’s announcement on their next Contracts for Difference funding, the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The Welsh Government remains committed to the decarbonising of our energy sector. However, once again, the UK Government is acting unilaterally in threatening jobs and investment in Wales through its announcement about Contracts for Difference funding for renewable electricity, today. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Wales has the opportunity to lead in marine energy deployment, however, this announcement threatens the opportunity to develop innovative marine energy devices to provide clean low carbon energy for future generations. We are looking to the UK Government to outline quickly what support it will provide to support this innovative and emerging sector. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Once again ideology appears to be driving UK thinking rather than ensuring we have a sufficient mix of affordable low carbon technologies now, and in the future.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​