Greens demand more protection for our energy innovators

Greens demand more protection for our energy innovators

The Wales Green Party are celebrating the success of Bethesda’s ‘Cyd Ynni -Ynni Lleol’ Energy Local Project. The UK first scheme enables residents to buy energy locally, at the time it’s being generated, for a significant discount. It is calculated that it will save consumers up to 30% on domestic energy bills whilst also providing a much needed boost for the generators, who have suffered a significant fall in revenue following the drastic cuts to the Feed-in-Tariff implemented by Westminster.

The Wales Green Party is calling for similar projects to be rolled out across Wales as soon as possible, creating local employment and helping households in fuel poverty.

However, alluding to the recent political interference that has undermined the renewable energy industry, the Wales Green Party state that innovative schemes like this must be given greater protection from statutory bodies before the lobbyists of the Big Energy companies stop further initiatives in their tracks.

Gwynfor Edwards, Wales Green Party Councillor for Deiniol said:

“It’s wonderful to see all the hard work come to fruition in my local area. I’ve seen a great deal of pessimism in the industry since the government started to undermine the green energy sector so this is a much-needed boost. Bethesda’s Energy Local project has shown that a mechanism exists, within the overly protectionist regulations, for a small supplier to sell energy locally so that everybody wins. The potential to boost employment, cut carbon emissions and reduce fuel poverty in Wales is vast and I would want this scheme to be replicated at scale right across Wales.”

“But I am extremely fearful of the traditional Big Energy companies looking to stifle this new competition.  So I am making a clear statement to all levels of government and OFGEM: Our Welsh energy innovators must be protected, and any lobbying looking to change the regulations to force out these Welsh innovators must be resisted.”