Isle of Anglesey County Council has welcomed the UK Government’s pledge to power homes and businesses with affordable, clean and secure electricity by 2035.
The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, RT Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP, recently unveiled plans to deliver a decarbonised electricity system.
Plans will focus on building a secure, home-grown energy sector – including green technologies such as offshore wind and nuclear energy – to support a transition from reliance on fossil fuels and exposure to volatile global wholesale energy prices.
Anglesey Council Leader, Councillor Llinos Medi, said, “The UK Government’s pledge to bring forward its commitment to developing a fully decarbonised power system by a full 15 years is very positive news."
“If these plans are to come to fruition, new nuclear projects must play a significant role in delivering them. This is good news for the Wylfa site on Ynys Môn, which is, as we know, the best development site in the UK. The Island has shown support for a new development on the Wylfa site for many years; and we are committed to playing our part in delivering clean and secure energy production.”
“The development of the Wylfa site aligns with the Council’s Energy Island Programme vision, which aims to create opportunities for jobs, economic growth and prosperity. These opportunities would benefit people and businesses on the Island and across North Wales.”
The UK Government will set out further details on its wider plans to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, through its net zero strategy, which will be published ahead of the UK playing host to the UN COP26 climate summit in Glasgow.
Anglesey’s Economy and Major Projects portfolio holder, Cllr Carwyn Elias Jones, added, “The people of Anglesey have been let down too many times. The UK Government, if serious, need to put their money where their mouth to ensure that a range of new energy projects are accelerated and that a nuclear development goes ahead at the Wylfa site. The inclusion of pre-development funding in the upcoming Comprehensive Spending Review at the end of this month is crucial, both in terms of achieving net-zero and revitalising the long term economy of Anglesey.”
Ends 18 October 2021