<p>Local Energy Generation Projects</p>

Part of 1. 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs – in the Senedd at 1:30 pm on 14 December 2016.

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Photo of Dawn Bowden Dawn Bowden Labour 1:30, 14 December 2016

Excellent. Thank you very much, Cabinet Secretary for your response. And I’m aware that you did, in fact, visit Taff Bargoed at the end of October—the hydropower scheme there. And that Taff Bargoed is the latest phase of a project that’s transformed that site of three disused coalmines in the heart of a Valleys community and which has seen the launch of the income-generating hydro scheme. I’m sure you’ll agree with me, Cabinet Secretary, that the park is a fine example of the kind of transformation of an industrial site into a leisure and recreation centre, which has become both a haven for wildlife and a centre for community activities, and the latest initiative is a natural and positive progression. But, as part of the Welsh Government’s strategy on delivering clean energy, notwithstanding what you’ve just said about the four schemes that are in the pipeline, can I ask you how we can encourage even more communities to generate their own energy and learn from the excellent example of projects such as Taff Bargoed?