Clean energy spend should cut bills first
October 26, 2025
Green energy jobs should help bring down heating bills, says expert
BBCA college aims to start training 200 new students in the coming months, to develop skilled workers needed in the transition to clean energy.
Those studying at Pembrokeshire College could then fill some of the 15,000 new jobs ministers hope will be created in Wales.
But senior Welsh government advisor David Clubb says UK ministers plan to spend billions on “unproven technology” such as carbon capture, when the initial focus should be on home insulation to help bring down bills for the public.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said he stands by his pledge to reduce energy bills.
National Infrastructure Commission chairman Mr Clubb believes the initial focus should be Wales’ “oldest housing stock in western Europe” which he believes leaves many in fuel poverty.
“For Wales, probably the first thing we should be doing is looking at a programme of insulation, and UK government should be putting money into that,” Mr Clubb said.
Ministers have talked about a £20 billion investment in carbon capture and storage, which he said is “likely not going to make a big impact on our ambitions for net zero by 2050”.
Mr Clubb, a green energy technology expert, said it was far better to invest first in making homes warmer and easier to heat “than to be spending huge sums of money, which will create jobs, yes, but in a very localised area”.
One of the areas to benefit from clean energy investments is Pembrokeshire College, in Haverfordwest.
Its hoping to start training 200 new students in the coming months in trades from plumbing to engineering.
It is part of a pilot scheme to develop skilled workers needed in the transition to clean energy that ministers say will bring 15,000 new jobs to Wales.
Theo Butland-Smith, 17, from Monkton said he believes there will be a “lot of money” in the new green jobs.
“[There is] a lot of opportunity so I thought I might as well pursue it, and I’ve enjoyed it ever since,” he said.
Welding student Bethany Price, also 17, from Haverfordwest, is hoping to end up in a clean energy job.
“It’s amazing how far they’ve come with everything,” she said.
“I’m just excited to be part of that new whole thing going on.”
Mr Clubb welcomes the jobs, but questioned whether large scale green projects will benefit Wales.
“For me, and the Infrastructure Commission… we’re disappointed that ownership of these projects is not being considered,” he said.
Most projects are owned outside of the country, he said, with only a few developed by the the community energy sector and small companies in Wales.
“We would like to see a renewable energy bill that gave the opportunity for local organisations and people to buy into projects,” he said.
David ClubbSam Kurtz, the Conservatives’ economy and energy spokesperson and Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire MS, also welcomed the new investment but raised concerns about the implications for oil and gas.
“We need to look at this in the wider context of where energy bills have got to after Labour have come to power, and that promise of cutting £300 off energy bills,” he said.
“Energy bills are now nearly £200 more expensive in the 12 months since the General Election, so the promise of jobs is welcome, but the alienation of our traditional oil and gas industries as well, is driving up the cost of people’s bills.”
The Welsh government welcomed the clean energy jobs, saying they are “central” to the its vision for Wales .
A spokesperson said: “The impact of high energy prices in recent years shows that it is essential for us to improve our energy security and reduce our dependence on imported energy.
“With our abundance of natural resources, Wales is in an ideal position to accelerate our renewable energy contribution and at the same time address climate change challenges.
“We are committed to ensuring carbon capture and storage is deployed to support industry to decarbonise.”
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