Plaid Cymru has pledged to transform Wales into an international centre for clean energy production.

The party voiced its strong support for the sector while launching its Senedd election manifesto, highlighting that Wales’ environmental strengths remain largely undeveloped.

Current polling indicates both this party and a competing political force are ahead in public favour ahead of the May 7 vote, with both groups signalling their aim to replace Welsh Labour in office.

During a tour of the community energy organisation Awel Aman Tawe on Wednesday, a Plaid Cymru hopeful attacked the opposing party, which has vowed to scrap net zero targets, claiming it contains individuals who question climate science.

She commented that Wales holds considerable untapped potential, from marine tidal resources to wind power, and that these natural advantages could elevate the nation to world leadership in the shift towards environmentally friendly energy.

She added that despite these possibilities, the failure of both Westminster and Cardiff administrations to properly harness these resources means Welsh households face some of the highest utility bills anywhere in Britain.

She stressed that a Plaid Cymru government elected on May 7 would position Wales as a worldwide renewable energy pioneer while guaranteeing that local communities receive direct advantages from their natural inheritance.

She concluded that this constitutes the choice facing electors in May’s Senedd ballot – either a more prosperous, ecologically sound future prioritising community wellbeing with Plaid Cymru, or ongoing harm to the environment under the other main party.

In its manifesto, the party reiterated its campaign for devolving Crown Estate responsibilities to Wales, maintaining this would ensure profits from developments such as offshore wind farms stay within the nation.

The party also outlined plans for accelerating planning approvals and introducing deadlines for renewable projects, alongside setting an ambition of achieving net zero emissions by 2040, superseding a previous target of 2035.

The opposing party committed in its Senedd manifesto to abandoning net zero ideology, while also pushing for restrictions on new onshore wind and solar developments.

Its representatives observed that Welsh energy policy has been dictated by net zero pledges imposed without proper assessment of costs, reliability, rural consequences, or public backing.

They noted that despite extensive subsidies for onshore wind, Welsh households face among the steepest electricity costs across Europe while the power network grows less dependable.

They promised their party would rectify this situation, stating their vision is straightforward. Welsh energy strategy must put residents, jobs, and national security first.

They declared support for energy self-sufficiency rather than inflexible targets pursued without regard for consequences.