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utIlIty WEEK | 4th - 10th July 2014 | 9 Interview W ales is open for green business. That was the message from Alun Davies, the Welsh Govern- ment's minister for natural resources and food, when he launched the Green Growth Wales prospectus last week. In a nutshell, this is a grand vision to make Wales a world leader in the green economy, rooted in the sustainable and intelligent use of the country's natural resources. Says Davies: "Wales was at the forefront of the first industrial revolution and we are determined to be at the forefront of the next one. In the same way that the availability of our natural resources drove the growth of iron and coal and then steel and manufacturing, it is our abundant natural resources that can drive the growth of a new and different economy… can create a new eco- nomic model that will deliver wealth creation and eco- nomic growth both today and into the future." Davies insists this is "not a so policy" and "not a rebranding exercise – we are recreating the way we do business". It will be backed by forthcoming legislation (the Environment Bill and the Planning Bill) and deliv- ered through a suite of initiatives including a committed government; creation of the right environment; funding; practical assistance; and research and innovation. Crucial to the whole strategy is Natural Resources Wales (NRW). NRW was formed in April 2013, through a merger of the Environment Agency Wales, the Coun- tryside Council for Wales, the Forestry Commission Wales and specific functions of the Welsh Government. According to chairman and utility sector veteran Peter Matthews, the organisation is a "world first" in the inno- vative and creative approach it takes to the management of natural resources and in its breadth of reach and integrated approach to managing, protecting and using those natural resources. "The global USP for Natural Resources Wales is that we now have all of the functions of environmental admin- istration and management in one body," Matthews says. The organisation's reach and scope is, in fact, enormous. In environmental regulation alone, it is responsible for, among other things, surface and groundwater dis- charges; water resources (abstraction, impoundment and drought); many major industries, SSSIs and fisheries. On top of that it is the main policy adviser to the Welsh Gov- ernment on environmental issues; a responder to emer- gency situations such as floods; a major land and forestry manager (it manages 7 per cent of the land area of the country); a recreation provider; a licence issuer; respon- sible for protecting and maintaining the environment; the statutory responder to planning applications on envi- ronmental issues; and has a commercial arm. With more than 2,000 staff, it is the largest sponsored body in Wales. Welsh resources and developments Existing: £12 billion Wylfa Newydd nuclear development; £6 billion Rhiannon offshore windfarm; Milford Haven LNG terminal; potential for lots of other low-carbon generation including wave/tidal, hydro, solar and wind; a secure, resilient water supply; seven ports; good road and rail links. Planned: 96 per cent of premises to have superfast broadband by 2016; £3 bil- lion investment by Western Power Distribution in the power network 2015-23; £1 billion investment by Wales and West Utilities in the gas network 2013-21; £2 billion water investment 2015-20; 15GW of new generation capacity in the pipeline; £750 million investment in waste infrastructure.