THE Welsh Government needs to develop binding sustainable energy targets and assume responsibility for delivering them.

Our communities need to get a direct benefit from larger energy projects in their area and the opportunity to participate in and to develop small-scale community energy projects.

All energy projects need to include community benefit clauses so that our communities get something back.

We need an arms-length, publicly-owned, not-for-distributable-profit energy company (Ynni Cymru), something that should directly benefit energy customers by helping them to pay a fair price for their energy.

Once, we were a world leader in carbon-based energy and we have the potential to be a world leader in developing sustainable energy projects.

Our Government needs to work to create the right environment so that everyone in Wales can benefit, not leave it to disinterested Westminster-based governments and the Big Six energy cartel providers. It’s time to show some ambition.

Jonathan T Clark, Plaid Cymru Parliamentary Candidate for Monmouth Constituency