Plaid Cymru would ‘ensure Welsh communities benefit from Welsh energy projects’
Stephen Price
A Plaid Cymru-led Welsh Government would ensure Welsh communities benefit from the nation’s energy projects, according to the party’s Leader, Rhun ap Iorwerth.
In a speech at an event set to be hosted by Ynni Cymunedol Cymru at Partneriaeth Ogwen in Bethesda, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth intends to outline his party’s vision for the future of the energy landscape in Wales.
Rhun ap Iorwerth MS will also state his party’s ‘unequivocal’ support for renewable energy and ambition to see communities ‘the length and breadth of Wales’ harness the power and potential of renewables, whilst also making it clear that the wellbeing of communities must be at the heart of the Welsh Government’s energy strategy.
In his speech, the Plaid Cymru Leader will announce several steps a Plaid Cymru Government would take to ensure communities in Wales benefit from energy projects in their communities, steps that are designed to “support a just, green transition that ultimately sees communities take more of their economic future into their own hands”.
Rhun ap Iorwerth will announce Plaid Cymru’s intention to require a minimum community-ownership stake of between 15 and 25% for all energy projects over 10 MW, or equivalent means of capturing community benefits, while also increasing the number of communities who have the capacity and ability to buy in to projects at scale.
The party also intends to establish a national energy body for Wales that would be responsible for developing large-scale projects, embedding meaningful community ownership, and supporting smaller-scale community energy initiatives.
Rhun ap Iorwerth MS, is expected to say: “Plaid Cymru supports renewable energy unequivocally just as we believe that the wellbeing of communities has to be at the heart of the Welsh Government’s energy strategy.
“Unlike the climate change deniers in Reform, we know that the transition to Net Zero and to greater energy self-sufficiency in an era of increased global insecurity is not optional.
“Our super-abundance of wind, water and waves means that Wales has the potential to be a green energy powerhouse. Done right, the green energy transition comes with major social and economic opportunities. I am clear that Welsh communities can and must benefit fully from Welsh renewables. And that includes a fair share of the profits.
“What does this mean in practice? It means building the infrastructure we need in a way that minimises and works to offset the impact on those who live closest to it. Above all, it means greater local and community ownership of energy produced in Wales.
“Ultimately, we think that increasing communities’ share in the ownership of Welsh renewables is the best way of securing a higher level of reinvestment in those communities in the longer term. A Plaid Cymru government will require a minimum community-ownership stake of between 15 and 25% for all energy projects over 10 MW, or corresponding means of capturing community benefits as a key condition for consent.
“We propose a single national energy body for Wales responsible for developing large-scale projects, embedding meaningful community ownership, and supporting smaller-scale community energy initiatives – all framed by the clear remit of retaining more of the value of Welsh renewables in Wales and helping to reduce energy bills over the medium to long term.
“If I have the privilege of becoming Wales’s First Minister following the election in May, we’ll do more to support a just, green transition that ultimately sees communities take more of their economic future into their own hands.
“Massive con”
In contrast with Plaid Cymru, Leader of Reform UK, Nigel Farage has said it is “irrelevant” whether he thought climate change was real.
He has argued anything the UK did would be dwarfed by the scale of carbon emissions in other countries, such as China and India.
Reform UK has put forward plans to impose taxes on the renewable energy sector, under its plans to scrap the UK’s net zero target, the party’s deputy leader Richard Tice has said.
The Boston and Skegness MP has argued that net-zero policies were to blame for higher energy bills and deindustrialisation in the UK, labelling renewable energy a “massive con”.
Speaking at a recent news conference, he shared: “The British people are being ripped off by the renewables industry.
“The British people need to know there is a direct link between the cost of all these subsidies to the vested interests in the renewables industry and your bills.”
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A great idea, it should have happened many years ago. Labour party in the valleys could have done this but chose instead to sell our wind to the highest bidder.
Being the 5th largest renewable energy producer on the planet and generating 5 x more electricity than what we use means that Cymru should be a very well off country, if we’re not being stolen from….
That is the price that Wales pays for UK occupation.
Wales is not the 5th biggest producer of renewable electricity. Not even close.
To put it in context, it produces about 0.15% of the renewable energy generation as produced in china. Where did you get this from?!
Well spotted and sorry for the confusion. That was meant to say “exporter” not “producer”.
Good strategy.
Scotland has tried this in the past. The challenge is energy policy isn’t fully devolved. Planning is devolved but ensuring that a project gets 15-25% (what is it?!) community ownership before approval will be legally challenged. That’s why SG ended up with a voluntary community fund – but these multinationals aren’t monsters and support a community fund – in fact many do this already in Wales. Community energy is really positive and should be encouraged as much as possible, but this is not going to work in e.g Flintshire, Wrexham, Cardiff. Projects do need some wealthy community backers, which we… Read more »
We’ve had large scale wind farms in mid-Wales for several years now yet our primary schools are still closing and other services poorly funded. The so-called ‘community benefits’ are nothing but a pipe dream, vast sums of money are syphoned off for the benefit of overseas investors.
Large scale wind projects are just another form of Tryweryn, local Welsh communities suffer due to the greed of outside interests. It is to Plaid’s eternal shame that they support this.
Hear! Hear! This response should be read by every Plaid Cymru candidate and supporter.
John -,you need to understand how projects are delivered to see the economic benefits to Englands economy. 2006 Network Rail created design teams of well paid roles across UK, except in Wales – covered by Swindon. Scotlands was in Glasgow. At same time I worked on strategies for Signalling projects at Port Talbot, Cardiff, Newport and first global trial of digital Signalling (www.ertms.net) with every permanent well-paid role in England. England never paid for Heads of Valleys road – EU funded / Core Valleys line upgrades – Welsh Govt funded. Current rollout of Net Zero projects has awarded every professional… Read more »
Perhaps levy a special business rates band that can be rebated on council tax bills in neighboring wards.
Totally agree with Plaid’s Rhun ap Iorwerth. Great idea. We, the Welsh people, should benefit — not some corporate shareholder or Whitehall’s English Treasury. And where both Labour and the Conservatives in the past have sold Wales to the highest bidder, climate-denying Reform UK seek only to exploit Wales further, dragging us back to pre-devolution darker times. No say — we pay, dearly.