COMMUNITY hydro-electricity schemes in Arfon will continue to benefit from a reduction in their running costs for the next financial year.

Plaid Cymru AM for the area, Siân Gwenllian, sought assurances from Welsh Government that hydro schemes such as Ynni Ogwen, Ynni Anafon and Ynni Padarn/Peris would continue to benefit from 100% rate relief for financial year 2019 to 20.

She explained that had the rate relief not been secured, community hydro projects were facing steep rate increases, some of which had ballooned as much as 900% in recent years.

She said: “We believe renewable energy projects such as hydro schemes must be an integral part of our energy mix and should benefit local communities.

“We are fortunate in Arfon to have so many established and emerging hydro schemes which are community funded and developed using local business expertise to provide green energy to our area.

“I’m glad that we’ve managed to persuade the Welsh Government to extend rate relief for these projects.

“If we are to build a green nation then community hydro schemes must be a fundamental part of that. However, small community run schemes require long-term certainty.”