Reform energy policy raises questions for Milford Haven and Celtic Freeport ambitions

PLANS outlined in Reform UK's Welsh manifesto have sparked debate over how the party's energy policies could affect the future of Milford Haven's rapidly expanding role in the UK's energy transition. The party's manifesto, launched on Thursday (Mar 5), includes proposals to ban new onshore wind farms and large-scale solar developments in Wales -- a stance which has drawn criticism from the renewable energy industry. Responding to questions from The Pembrokeshire Herald on Thursday, a Reform Wales spokesperson said the party's approach was driven by concerns about rising household energy costs.

"Reform will put energy bills and hard pressed families at the centre of every energy decision," the spokesperson said. RenewableUK Cymru warned that such policies could undermine investment in the country's growing clean energy sector, potentially affecting thousands of jobs and billions of pounds of planned investment.

Freeport and floating wind ambitions

The issue is particularly relevant for Pembrokeshire, where Milford Haven sits at the heart of the Celtic Freeport, a major economic initiative designed to transform the area into a hub for green energy and advanced manufacturing. Central to those plans is the development of floating offshore wind farms in the Celtic Sea, with ports such as Milford Haven expected to play a key role in assembling, servicing and supporting large turbine installations.

Industry leaders believe the Celtic Sea wind projects could bring tens of billions of pounds of investment into Wales over the coming decades, alongside thousands of jobs in engineering, manufacturing and port services. Supporters say the Freeport could position Pembrokeshire as one of the UK's most important centres for the renewable energy supply chain.

Renewable industry response

Responding to Reform's manifesto, RenewableUK Cymru director Jess Hooper said restricting renewable energy projects would be a mistake at a time when Wales has major opportunities in the sector. She said: "Homegrown renewable energy has been a shield, not a burden.

Investing in a renewable energy system is a sensible and pragmatic choice for billpayers. "The manifesto commitment to ban new onshore wind and solar would only lead to higher bills, weaker energy security, and Wales would miss out on the huge opportunity to secure new jobs and investment."

The organisation estimates that Wales could secure GBP10bn of business investment and create around 8,000 jobs through renewable energy projects if development continues at scale.

Offshore wind not directly targeted

However, Reform's manifesto does not propose banning offshore wind developments, which form the core of the Celtic Sea plans. Floating wind projects are widely expected to be developed far out to sea, using specialised turbines anchored to floating platforms.

As a result, analysts say the Freeport strategy centred on offshore wind could still move forward even if onshore wind and solar projects were restricted.

Energy debate intensifies

Reform argues its policies are designed to protect rural landscapes and reduce energy costs by shifting the focus away from what it describes as "subsidy-heavy" renewable schemes. The party says Wales should prioritise reliable and affordable energy sources while ensuring the country benefits economically from its natural resources. But critics say limiting renewable development could weaken investor confidence and slow the growth of Wales' emerging clean energy sector.

Pembrokeshire at the centre of the debate

With Milford Haven already home to the UK's largest LNG terminals and now positioning itself as a centre for offshore wind development, Pembrokeshire finds itself at the centre of a growing political debate about the future of Wales' energy system.

As the Senedd election campaign gathers pace ahead of polling day on Thursday (May 7), the question of how Wales balances energy security, environmental policy and economic growth is likely to remain a key issue -- particularly in communities like Milford Haven where the stakes are especially high.