In the week when issues raised at the Paris Climate Change Conference were being reported worldwide, Llangattock’s latest ‘going green’ initiative was also attracting attention.

Welsh Labour Minister Carl Sargeant and Alex Thomas, Labour candidate for Brecon and Radnorshire, were keen to take a firsthand look at Llangattock Green Valley’s new hydro turbine on the slopes of Mynydd Llangatwg - and were full of praise for the scheme.

Llangattock Green Valleys is a Community Interest Company set up to generate energy from the local streams. Over two share offers the company has raised almost £1m. Investors are expected to receive an annual return of 5%, and income from the micro hydro will also be paid into a community fund.

The enterprise’s latest generator, which uses water from Nant yr Hafod, went live last month. In three weeks of operation the new turbine has produced close to 8,000 kWh – enough to supply two average Welsh households with electricity for a year.

Carl Sargeant said, “It was great to visit this micro-generator scheme. The community have worked incredibly hard to develop this sustainable local scheme.”

Alex Thomas added, “This is a fantastic project, run by dedicated volunteers, that makes brilliant use of our natural resources. In the week of the Paris conference this shows the real difference that local, community-led, endeavours can make.”

In 2008 the village of Llangattock came together to set up a number of green organisations, including LACAS - an allotment society, Llangattock Litter Pickers, and Llangattock Community Woodlands - a woodland society that generates 100 cubic metres of firewood a year.

In 2009 the community won the British Gas Green Street competition. The prize money combined with Welsh Government funding provided the seed capital for the hydro-electric generation project.