Planners must make it easier for householders to go green, says local AM Angela Burns.

Mrs. Burns, who is the Welsh Shadow Environment Minister, says planning officials need to help people harness renewable energy.

"I often hear from residents who have not been allowed to put up micro regeneration units such as small scale windmills or solar panels for planning reasons," explained Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire AM Mrs. Burns.

"On the one hand people are being told to cut their energy consumption and go green but when they try to do something about it they are coming up against the system.

"There is a long list of regulations concerning solar panels and I think many of these should be looked at again.

"What really is more important: climate change or sticking to planning guidelines?"

Mrs. Burns is a member of the Assembly's cross-party Sustainability Committee which has just issued a report urging ministers to ensure the planning process does not hamper households from going green.

Just four per cent of Wales' electricity is produced from renewable sources - most of which is wind.

Mrs. Burns added: "I think there's a danger of thinking too big, if we need more power then we'll build a Severn Barrage or another nuclear power station, but what we really need to do is make it easier and cheaper for every household to make a small difference.

"Some people say they are not worth it because they only cut your electricity consumption by, say, 20 per cent, but if everyone was using 20 per cent less it would make a real difference."