Shifting away from the use of fossil fuels and towards renewable energy couldn’t be more urgent. We are tired of waiting and are taking this matter into our own hands. By creating a community-owned energy company and producing renewable energy right here in our local area we can take ownership of this issue and, as well as doing our part towards this shift to a fossil-free future, we can also generate profits to be used to benefit all citizens of Hay-on-Wye and the surrounding villages.
At our second Community Assembly in early 2025, close to 70 members of the community deliberated The Energy Question:
“In an ideal world what do we, the people in this room, think are the best ways for us to gain community support and participate in generating community-owned renewable energy locally and in setting up Hay Energy”.
Those who attended the event heard presentations from two local organisations here in Wales who are already further along a similar journey. Talks from Llangattock Green Valley CIC and Ynni Teg inspired the attendees by illustrating what IS possible, whilst also drawing attention to some of the hurdles we may have to navigate along the way.
Objective: Achieve self-sufficiency in community-owned renewable energy by 2035
Key Themes:
Making sure everyone has a voice - from school kids to seniors
Keeping things local and beneficial to Hay
Clear, straightforward communication about what we're doing and why
Finding ways for everyone to contribute, whether that's time, skills, or support
Action Points:
Creating a Community Spirit Campaign to spread the word and build excitement
Mapping our community's talents and possible potential energy sites
Building strong relationships with local farmers, council, and schools
Next Steps:
Setting up regular community events and information sharing
Learning from successful projects like Llangattock and others
Developing clear, simple materials to help everyone understand how they can get involved
Here are the key themes, action points and next steps that emerged from the deliberations:
The Energy Pillar is the financial cornerstone on which the whole Hay Community Resilience Initiative rests. Energy production is a profitable industry and by adopting the principles of circular economics we will ensure these profits are retained for the benefit of the community. We propose this be done by establishing a Community Wealth Fund.
Hay Community Resilience Initiative
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