Decision details

Debates are one of the most frequent items of business on the Plenary agenda. Many types of debate are brought forward in Plenary, including:

• Opposition party debates on a topic of their choice;

Other than in the case of Government debates, the time allocated for all other types of debates and their frequency are determined by the Business Committee

The item started at 17.11

Voting on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM5499 Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes the publication of the Welsh Liberal Democrat report 'Powering Wales’ Future'.

 

2. Regrets that politically conservative parties across the UK are increasingly denying the overwhelming evidence which substantiates climate change.

 

3. Recognises that a sustainable low carbon future can be achieved through an ambitious change in how we generate energy.

 

4. Acknowledges that a smart and diverse grid network is essential for ensuring that our future energy needs can be met in a reliable and sustainable manner.

 

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

 

a) review Technical Advice Note 8 to permit updates which reflect technological improvements and the development of new Strategic Search Areas, to encourage new projects and reduce existing concentrations;

 

b) work with industry to develop regional community benefit schemes, so that communities along transportation and grid corridors can benefit from the economic investments which come with renewables;

 

c) maximise the economic benefits of renewables by working with developers and educational institutions to expand supply chains and centres of excellence for the next generation of engineers and apprentices;

 

d) explore the development of Marine Energy Hubs to provide a safe environment to manufacture and test emergent marine technologies to help Wales gain a competitive advantage;

 

e) focus public support for research into large scale electrical storage technology such as batteries;

 

f) explore the potential of developing new pumped storage facilities so that more energy can be stored for peak time usage and ensure a stable supply of low carbon electricity; and

 

g) develop new technical advice for hydraulic fracturing, including test drilling, to ensure that safety and environmental protection can be guaranteed to the highest standards.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
5	0	43	48

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

 

Delete point 2 and replace with “Notes that there are people across all aspects of society who will continue to question the rationale behind changes in our global climate”.

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
11	0	37	48

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

In point 2, delete ‘politically conservative parties across the UK are’ and replace with ‘the UK Government is’.

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
32	0	16	48

Amendment 2 was agreed.

Amendment 3 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

Insert as new point 3 and renumber accordingly:

 

Regrets the restrictions placed on the competence of the National Assembly for Wales in the field of energy.

A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
37	11	0	48

Amendment 3 was agreed.

Amendment 4 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

Insert as new sub-point 5b) and renumber accordingly:

 

explore the potential of establishing a publicly-owned, not-for-distributable-profit, arm’s length energy company

A vote was taken on Amendment 4:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
48	0	0	48

Amendment 4 was agreed.

Amendment 5 - Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

 

Delete sub-point 5g

A vote was taken on Amendment 5:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
25	0	23	48

Amendment 5 was agreed.

Amendment 6 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

Add as new sub-point at end of point 5:

 

fund a nation-wide retrofitting scheme to cut energy consumption and lower energy bills for consumers

A vote was taken on Amendment 6:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
37	11	0	48

Amendment 6 was agreed.

Amendment 7 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

Add as new sub-point at end of point 5:

 

publish any research into the feasibility of building a grid connection between the north and south of Wales

A vote was taken on Amendment 7:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
48	0	0	48

Amendment 7 was agreed.

Amendment 8 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Believes that the Welsh Government must support and invest in a variety of renewable energy forms to achieve key climate change objectives and notes that there are enough onshore wind farm applications in the planning pipeline to fulfil UK renewable energy targets

A vote was taken on Amendment 8:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
11	7	30	48

Amendment 8 was not agreed.

Amendment 9 - Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Believes the Planning Bill should give local communities more power to accept or reject particular renewable energy schemes to best fit their locality.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 9:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
18	5	25	48

Amendment 9 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM5499 Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes the publication of the Welsh Liberal Democrat report 'Powering Wales’ Future'.

 

2. Regrets that the UK Government is increasingly denying the overwhelming evidence which substantiates climate change.

 

3. Regrets the restrictions placed on the competence of the National Assembly for Wales in the field of energy

 

4. Recognises that a sustainable low carbon future can be achieved through an ambitious change in how we generate energy.

 

5. Acknowledges that a smart and diverse grid network is essential for ensuring that our future energy needs can be met in a reliable and sustainable manner.

 

6. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

 

a) review Technical Advice Note 8 to permit updates which reflect technological improvements and the development of new Strategic Search Areas, to encourage new projects and reduce existing concentrations;

 

 

b) explore the potential of establishing a publicly-owned, not-for-distributable-profit, arm’s length energy company

 

c) work with industry to develop regional community benefit schemes, so that communities along transportation and grid corridors can benefit from the economic investments which come with renewables;

 

d) maximise the economic benefits of renewables by working with developers and educational institutions to expand supply chains and centres of excellence for the next generation of engineers and apprentices;

 

e) explore the development of Marine Energy Hubs to provide a safe environment to manufacture and test emergent marine technologies to help Wales gain a competitive advantage;

 

f) focus public support for research into large scale electrical storage technology such as batteries;

 

g) explore the potential of developing new pumped storage facilities so that more energy can be stored for peak time usage and ensure a stable supply of low carbon electricity;

 

h) fund a nation-wide retrofitting scheme to cut energy consumption and lower energy bills for consumers; and

 

i) publish any research into the feasibility of building a grid connection between the north and south of Wales.

 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
32	5	11	48

The motion as amended was agreed.