Lindsay Whittle, Plaid Cymru Senedd Member, has raised the ‘family silver’ sell-off by Labour-run Caerphilly Council of a solar farm with the First Minister.
The Blaenau Gwent, Caerffili and Rhymni MS, who is a former leader of the local authority, asked Rhun ap Iorwerth: “What measures is the Welsh Government taking to ensure renewable energy projects will have a positive impact on local communities as opposed to just being a burden and an eyesore?
Lindsay Whittle, who is highly critical of the sell-off, said: “First Minister, the decision by the Labour-run Caerphilly county council to privatise the Cwm Ifor solar farm project has actually stripped the public of what was meant to be our flagship green asset.
“Local residents were promised a long-term income stream to enhance local facilities and support community groups, but instead they got a secret deal with a private firm and it has been sold. The family silver has now gone.
“What guidance can the Welsh Government offer to prevent councils from mismanagement of green developments and bypassing the community's right to know?”
In response, Rhun ap Iorwerth, the First Minister told Lindsay Whittle: “I am aware and I note the concern about that specific project. Of course, on specific projects, they're decisions for the local authority to take.
“I also recognise, of course, the wider points that the member is making on ensuring local communities are involved in projects and get the opportunity to either own or have a sense of ownership of projects in Wales. And, for too long, Wales has hosted energy projects without keeping enough of the wealth they create, and that is now set to be reversed.
“If Welsh land, if Welsh wind, water, sea bed create wealth, this Government believes that the people of Wales should see more of that wealth, so that we can invest it for the future. And, at project level, we will expand larger schemes to make a genuine community ownership offer, with an equivalent local benefit model, a wealth fund payment, or another clear mechanism only where equity is genuinely impracticable. But this is something that we have to see changing."