Community Energy Wales has launched a manifesto that challenges the next generation of Welsh politicians by proposing a series of measures and policies to change the way energy is generated and owned in Wales. The manifesto also emphasises the ways in which more prosperous communities can be realised by changing ownership models, ensuring revenue streams that local people can control and which could eventually lead to funding public spaces, community infrastructure and resources and public services.
Among the document’s proposals is a call to devolve the Crown Estate to Wales and to use the revenue raised as well as a ‘tax on natural resources’ on large scale private energy developments in order to create a new Community Wealth Fund. The idea is that money from the fund could be used to fund renewable energy projects on a smaller scale, that would be run and operated by local community groups.
In a statement, Leanne Wood, Co-executive Director for Community Energy Wales said:
“Confidence in private companies, institutions, and governments to do right by their communities is at an all-time low. Profits from previous energy revolutions left the country via the age-old extractive economic model. If this failed model drives the next energy revolution – on top of the severe cuts to public services and public infrastructure – Welsh communities will be exploited and marginalised yet again.”
Ben Ferguson, Co-executive Director for Community Energy Wales said:
“There is a serious lack of support for the early stages of community-owned businesses – a Community Wealth Fund would allow for the resources needed to create these businesses, and lock in the benefits that come with them to Welsh communities”.
The manifesto was developed following consultation and engagement with community energy groups across Wales. A specific vision of ‘energy communities’ was outlined – areas of around 250-300 houses which generate and then keep and use as much of this energy as possible in that area. One possible effect of this would be to allow local residents to buy energy at lower than market rates.
The manifesto also discusses the circular economy, with proposals to favour regenerative developments rather than extractive ones along with changes to the procurement process to allow better opportunities for smaller organisations, and more funding for training opportunities and apprenticeships for those jobs essential to building and maintaining energy communities.
Leanne Wood said:
“We have spent a lot of time hearing from our members in the community energy sector about the barriers to developing new community energy. The measures outlined in this manifesto aim to break down those barriers to enable the community energy sector and community ownership more widely to thrive. We hope that political parties and election candidates will engage seriously with the measures outlined. It’s vital that communities are able to realise tangible benefits from the changes that are coming to our energy system, and the measures outlined in this manifesto will enable them to do that. It’s time to make our economy work for the communities of Wales.”
You can download and read the manifesto by clicking this link: Community Energy Wales Manifesto 2026.
