Plaid Cymru today launched their manifesto for the 2016 National Assembly elections, using the hashtag #Plaid16, and simultaneously live streaming on Periscope. The scope for using social media for such a launch was indicated by the 78 live viewers of the event; an incredibly modest start which doubtless heralds a more general shift towards live online viewing of events across all sectors, and potentially away from traditional ways of engaging with politics.
78 viewers; it’s small fry, but signals the way in which people are changing the way they interact with live events
Adam Price, leading on policy for the party, emphasised the fact that the costings for the policy commitments had been independently verified by two of Wales’ most eminent economists, Prof. Gerry Holtham and Prof. Brian Morgan.
Energy issues are not headline for the manifesto, and are discussed on pages 127 to 136. The main points are:
- A ban on fracking and new open-cast coal mines
- A commitment to secure responsibility for all energy powers as well as Crown Estates within Wales
- A commitment to generating 100% of Welsh electricity consumption from renewables by 2035
- An emphasis on energy systems being run for the interests of Welsh communities
- Support for tidal lagoons
- Establishing a national not-for-profit energy company, Ynni Cymru which would have the remit to:
- Improve energy efficiency and reducing the cost of energy for Welsh homes and businesses
- Roll out a publicly-funded mass programme of solar PV installation across Wales using local installers
- Acquire and develop large-scale generation and storage facilities
Plaid’s assertion that large mainstream commercial development is likely to be supplanted by local community-owned generation and publicly-owned large projects is unsupported by the evidence and raises expectations on the public sector which may not be deliverable.
Plaid Cymru seem sceptical about large-scale, commercially-owned projects; yet they will be a critical component of future generation.
Commenting on the manifesto commitments, David Clubb said:
“There are a number of very positive commitments, including targets for renewable energy, commitments to widespread and local installation of solar photovoltaics, a ban on open-cast coal and fracking, and support for storage and for tidal lagoons.
“However there seems to be an implicit reluctance to accept that large commercial developments have a role to play in Wales’ future energy systems. Wales will need all scales of renewable energy, and include all forms of operator including domestic, community, public sector and private sector.
“We commend the innovative nature of a number of these proposals, but would encourage Plaid Cymru to view the private sector as delivery partners for all scales of project in the future, alongside community and public sector.”