Speaking during the public protest that preceded the start of the Mid Wales Conjoined Public Inquiry in Welshpool, Montgomeryshire Assembly Member said:
"The hundreds of people that are here this morning once again demonstrates the strength of local feeling against these proposals; proposals which will see the industrialisation of this very beautiful and very special landscape.
"We already have hundreds of turbines across the region, so to potentially have a further 800 more with all the associated infrastructure that comes with it will have a huge detrimental impact on our communities.
"Leaders of tomorrow will look back and wonder what on earth the decision makers of the day were thinking, if these proposals go ahead.
"However, I do genuinely believe we have forced Government to think again and we trust the inspector will examine the evidence carefully and come to the right conclusion.
"We must continue the fight until this terrible threat to our futures is defeated."
The AM also read out messages of support from Lord Carlile of Berriew and from Member of Parliament, Glyn Davies, who was unable to attend the start of the inquiry because he was involved in a parliamentary debate on the UK Government’s Energy Bill in Westminster.