How can we escape the embrace of those who control our energy supply and empower not the hyper-rich but our communities, our families and ourselves?
One way, perhaps the best way, is to promote local community renewable energy projects throughout Wales? Better still, to combine them with serious attempts to harness energy efficient technologies and systems to allow people to live well, indeed better, on much less energy. This would reduce total demand and the potential impact on wildlife and on amenities as well as empowering people.
In general people think in terms of renewable solar, wind and hydro power but in the old mining areas geothermal heat may well be part of the mix.
There are other important advantages to community energy projects, as outlined in the newly published Community Energy Wales State of the Sector Report. The report provides numerous examples of community energy groups encouraging community cooperation as well as providing funds for various local initiatives and reinvestment initiatives in more clean energy. Many if not all projects also help people to become more aware of our dependence on energy and how we use it - and will then hopefully be more open to simple initiatives to reduce waste.
We must also acknowledge that many renewables are intermittent and require backup and storage systems, including an ability to import electricity, at times. This must be part of a strategy that fits with community produced energy.
