Local Power Plan

Catherine Fookes Excerpts

Tuesday 10th February 2026 Commons Chamber

[Ed Miliband]

I will not go into the details of a planning decision, but areas that host energy infrastructure should see community benefits. What I say to his constituents and others is that there should always be community benefits, but if we want to bring down bills, and if we want energy security, we must build the energy infrastructure that we need. Solar is a really important part of that, because it is the cheapest, cleanest form of power. I am sure that some of his constituents will not like the proposal, but sometimes we have to stand up and say, “We think this is the right thing to do for cheap, clean power.”

[Catherine Fookes (Monmouthshire) (Lab)]

I thank the Secretary of State for announcing a big investment in local energy. He mentioned the fantastic example of the Geraint Thomas national velodrome in Newport, in my neighbouring constituency, with its 2,000 solar panels. This shows the value of community energy projects, which will cut bills, tackle climate change and literally give power to those local people on bikes going around the velodrome. I am delighted that the Welsh and UK Governments have an exciting vision for community energy, and that the Welsh Government created Ynni Cymru in 2023. What can the Secretary of State tell me about the investment in further local energy plans in Wales, and in my constituency of Monmouthshire?

[Ed Miliband]

I congratulate the Welsh Government on their important initiatives in this area; they are great leaders in it. I was whispering to the Minister for Energy about whether he and I should be cycling in the Geraint Thomas national velodrome, but he thought that was probably a bad idea. From the look on her face, I see that Madam Deputy Speaker seems to agree. I really hope that the constituents of my hon. Friend the Member for Monmouthshire (Catherine Fookes) benefit from this initiative. They will be able to see, from the velodrome, the benefit that there could be for them. We look forward to working with the Welsh Government on super-charging the benefits of this plan.