Press release
The Coal Beneath our Feet, the Wind Above our Heads – a new film
16 October 2025
A new film charts the story of coal, the end of mining, the workers buy out of Tower Colliery & moves on to the new energy of the future through the eyes of two valleys teenagers. It explores questions about how we avoid making the mistakes of the past, how we can build on our cooperative and community spirit and what is community energy are addressed in this short film.
In community assemblies held in Treherbert, Gurnos and Aberdare, community energy was identified as something people wanted to work on. Community Energy Wales are taking on the community energy elements from these reports. Following two public meetings held in Treherbert and Maerdy, and after representatives from a range of organisations either generating community energy or planning to do so, they are now ready to set up an incorporated organisation.
VALLEYS COMMUNITY ENERGY – exciting new development.
The organisations currently involved include Community Energy Wales, Welcome To Our Woods, Arts Factory, Gilfach Goch Community Council, Tîr Pontypridd, Cambrian Village Trust and Rhondda Tunnel Society.
Valleys Community Energy will be set up to:
- seek out and advance any business opportunities for community energy in the Rhondda and surrounding area
- jointly develop projects with others and hold public engagement events and
- work to achieve the wider and deeper ambition of the community energy sector to act as a catalyst and an economic anchor for revitalisation of local places
The group is being supported by Cwmpas, who have expertise in setting up these constituted bodies.