Protecting our Landscape from Large Scale Pylons
Updated: September 2024
Many people have contacted me with their concerns about Bute Energy and Green GEN Cymru’s plans to develop new windfarms, substation, and grid infrastructure within Montgomeryshire, which would result in many more large-scale wind turbines built.
Currently, as there is no National Grid infrastructure capable of collecting and distributing generated power, Green GEN Cymru have proposed a substation which would connect energy parks through large lattice pylons and a new 132kv overhead line through parts of North Powys. This would be linked to the main grid connection in Shropshire.
Many will remember previous large-scale windfarm proposals of a decade ago, where our communities reacted in force against the total lack of consideration and empathy for residents and landscapes shown by National Grid and developers. It is vital that renewable energy companies ensure that they take communities with them, rather than imposing projects upon Mid Wales.
I have attended a number of public meetings, including a well-attended meeting in Meifod. It is important that people keep attending public meetings, consultation events and respond to any consultation by the developers.
Whilst, it is important that as our power needs increase and more renewable power sources come online, such as farm scale renewables, that we do have improved grid connections. However, the line proposed would do little to help such projects in Mid Wales.
These proposals specifically refer to an overhead as opposed to underground connection. It is important to keep in mind that undergrounding cables is also not without its issues. I have serious concerns with the proposed pylon lines through the Vyrnwy Valley and other areas. I have raised this in the Senedd chamber several times with the previous First Minister, Mark Drakeford MS, whereby he has stated to me that Welsh Government’s policy is that there should be underground not overground transmission, however the guidance around this states that a balanced view must be taken against costs which would render otherwise acceptable projects unviable. I have been calling on Welsh Government for some time to update its Planning Policy Wales document so that the undergrounding of new infrastructure for conveying electricity should be an absolute rather than a preferred position and the policy should state ‘New power lines should be laid underground’. In early summer, this year I took part in a debate in the Senedd calling again for the Welsh Government to update its policy to reflect that new power lines should be laid underground but sadly the Welsh Labour Government voted against the motion.
Furthermore, the size of newly proposed wind turbines is a concern. Using huge offshore scale turbines onshore, is not appropriate for our landscape. The industrialisation of our landscape with large-scale windfarms and pylons criss-crossing mid Wales hills and valleys is not acceptable.
I have also been alarmed by reports that Bute Energy subsidiaries have been illegally accessing land within Montgomeryshire without consent or legal permission. In addition to this, several landowners have in recent months been issued with notices demanding access to land and properties to carry out surveys for proposed pylon routes. These are issues I have taken up directly with Bute and GreenGEN and I will continue to raise issues that are brought to my attention. In July, Ofgem granted GreenGEN a licence to allow them to now develop, own and operate a 132kV electricity distribution network in Wales which means they are now legally able to progress their plans.
The people of Montgomeryshire have fought hard over the past decade to campaign against large scale pylons to protect our beautiful landscape. We must be ready to oppose any further inappropriate plans.