CAMPAIGNERS opposing plans to build wind turbines on the hills of the Radnor Forest have experienced first-hand the anger the proposals are causing local communities.
Bute Energy’s 31 turbines at its flagship Nant Mithil Energy Park would stand up to 220 metres tall on some of the highest hills in Powys. Visible for miles around, many locals say they will blight the area for decades.
Bute is currently holding a six-week statutory public consultation period which closes on Monday, June 24. As part of this, it has run three exhibition-style events for members of the public to find out more.
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Having campaigned outside all three of these sessions in Dolau, Penybont and New Radnor, RE-think campaigners say while many locals are coming out of the consultation even more worried and angry than when they arrived, they are also determined to fight off the plans.
“At New Radnor, many of the residents who were there joined us in a noisy protest outside,” said RE-think campaign lead Jenny Chryss after the New Radnor meeting on Saturday, June 8.
“People feel so powerless and time and time again we hear complaints that this is nothing but corporate greed. This industrial-scale proposal is not specifically for Radnorshire, or even Wales.
“Any electricity generated would go straight to the national grid, with the power line connecting it carried on pylons for most of the 96km route.
“Our experts tell us that over-reliance on intermittent, weather dependant onshore wind will leave us requiring expensive fossil-fuel back-up or imports for the foreseeable future.
“Nonetheless, Bute Energy is proposing 16 energy parks in Wales, including two almost adjacent to the Radnor Forest.
“That would effectively create a giant 17 square-mile wind farm containing more than 70 turbines. It’s a disgrace that it’s even being considered.
“I urge residents to now write into Bute before the closing date and make their views known to them about the proposals.”
Bute’s original plans for Nant Mithil included scope for 36 turbines. The company said feedback from initial consultation, as well as findings from environmental assessments, led to their proposals being updated.
Bute claims Nant Mithil will produce up to 205 megawatts of clean energy, generating power for between 135,000 and 202,000 homes.
It will connect to the electricity transmission network via the proposed Towy Usk green energy network to be built by Green GEN Cymru, part of the Bute Energy Group.
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