Home » News » From Opposition to Opportunity: Uniting Welsh Communities for Net Zero

From Opposition to Opportunity: Uniting Welsh Communities for Net Zero

As the Community Investment Manager for Bute Energy, Eluned Lewis bridges the gap between renewable energy projects and the communities that host them, ensuring local voices are heard and valued. From the Labour Party Conference 2024, she shares her insights on the inspiring drive toward Net Zero by 2035, emphasizing the critical role of onshore wind and the need for effective community engagement. Eluned advocates for Uniting Welsh Communities for Net Zero, highlighting the lasting benefits of harnessing renewable energy’s potential for both local communities and the environment.

I am super excited to be at the Labour Party Conference 2024 and amazed by the sheer size of it. I have only previously been to Welsh political party conferences, so the scale-up was impressive, and the mood that change is going to happen was infectious. The focus on the drive to Net Zero Wales and the role of renewable energy policy was key here. This new Labour Government really does seem to emphasise its importance and the need to find solutions to the system changes, particularly around planning reform, to enable these projects to move forward. This is a vote of confidence for developers investing millions in the development of these projects.

I often get asked at consultation events, “why here on our hill?” and “isn’t there a better option?” My answer is, why not this hill? We need to use every option and technology to mitigate climate change. Crucially, onshore wind remains the cheapest and quickest way for us to achieve Net Zero by 2035 in Wales, and the Bute Energy portfolio can contribute more than 2 GW of this.

As the Community Investment Manager for Bute Energy, I am passionate about ensuring a better link between the united national drive for Net Zero and the communities that will host the energy parks and associated grid lines, which are so desperately needed for us to meet these targets.

Misinformation and the Importance of Dialogue

This morning, at Labour Party Conference 2024, I attended a fringe event discussing how to combat online misinformation surrounding climate change, net zero, and energy projects. The message was clear: we need to spend more time in communities, talking to real people, and take the engagement offline. As a major developer, Bute Energy is aligned with Labour’s green energy policies, and we understand the importance of community engagement for long-term project success.

Much of the new onshore wind energy in Wales will be delivered in communities identified by the Welsh Government as having the best potential for energy generation. These are often rural communities that can benefit significantly from renewable energy investment. Onshore wind is one of the most viable renewable energy solutions, especially as we work towards Net Zero Wales. For example, Bute Energy’s projects have the capacity to significantly contribute to Wales’ energy needs, providing low-cost, sustainable power while helping to meet Net Zero 2035 goals.

Read: Wales’ Workforce Challenge: Who Will Build Our Green Future?

I was pleased to hear Wales’ First Minster’s response to a question in the Senedd around GB Energy recently. For me, it shows promising signs that Welsh Government is serious about renewable energy, and serious about tackling the climate crisis:

“I’m not going to apologise in terms of what our ambitions are in relation to the development of green energy. The potential in Wales, this could be transformational for our economy and we’re all going to have to work out how we do this whilst making sure that we look at security of supply, so we’re not dependent on Russian gas and the vagaries of the international markets, so that we look at the environmental benefits of having green energy, but also affordability…

“…we have had a ‘Future Energy Grids for Wales’ report, and that shows that Wales’s electricity demand may triple by 2050. Now, you can bury your head in the sand if you want on that, but as a leader of a Government, I think we’ve got a responsibility to make sure that, for example, people in mid Wales can get into electric vehicles, and at the moment they won’t be able to because the grid is so weak, so there are challenges.”

Community Engagement and Investment: Creating a Lasting Legacy

As one of the largest community investment teams among renewable energy developers in the UK, Bute Energy places great importance on understanding the needs, ambitions, and concerns of the communities where we operate. Our work directly aligns with Labour’s green energy policy, particularly in building strong connections with the communities we serve.

We invest significant time in researching the specific needs of local communities and finding ways to support them through social value in renewable energy. This includes direct contributions like community funds, skills training, and local job creation. Rural community investment plays a crucial role in the success of these projects, as we work to ensure that our developments benefit everyone—especially communities that have seen little prior investment.

By encouraging local jobs and skills development in renewable energy, we are leaving a lasting legacy in the communities where we operate. Our commitment to creating long-term opportunities ensures that rural Wales benefits not only from the energy we generate but also from the economic and social opportunities that come with it.

A Shared Responsibility for a Net Zero Wales

But there is a collective responsibility on all of us to make the case for Net Zero Wales and the benefits of achieving it—for communities, the Welsh and local economies, and our planet. As developers, we must make a stronger case for rural communities, particularly those that haven’t seen significant investment or new opportunities in recent years.

At Bute Energy, we aim to keep as much of the £3 billion investment in Wales for the benefit of its people and communities. Our work will create up to 2,000 local jobs in renewable energy and contribute up to £800 million in community benefits over 40 years. This legacy includes skills training, job creation, and new opportunities for local businesses to take on contracts to construct and maintain our energy parks. Our commitment to the Social Value Standard, where 2% of contract value is reinvested in local communities, ensures we leave a lasting and positive impact on the areas we operate in.

Learn more about our work in the community

13.06.2023

ANTZ Cymru Appointed by Bute Energy to Help Drive Social Impact

Read more

07.07.2023

Bute Energy and FAW forge partnership to empower and energise Women’s Football

Read more

03.04.2023

Bute Energy announces charity partnerships to make an impact that matters in Wales

Read more

04.06.2024

Bute Energy Rallies Around Young Farmers in Radnorshire

Read more

28.02.2024

Our Visit to see the Brecon Mountain Rescue Team

Read more

15.05.2024

Sparking Change: We’re Powering Powys Sparks in Welsh netball league debut

Read more
|