Wind Power News: Wales
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted.
Work set to start on wind farm
Work is due to start on a wind farm on a Valleys mountaintop on Monday – just days before planning permission is due to expire.
Campaigners described the news that Dutch energy company Infinergy Limited will start work on Mynydd Tyntyla, between Ferndale in the Rhondda Fach and Ystrad in the Rhondda Fawr, as a bolt out of the blue.
The firm was granted planning permission in April 2005 after a two-year appeal process. The company says the eight generators would . . .
Minister’s ambition for future Welsh green energy
The assembly government is expected to say that Wales has the potential to generate twice its electricity needs from renewable sources within 15 years.
Environment Minister Jane Davidson will make a statement on energy later.
The assembly has previously set a target of seven terawatt-hours (TWh) of green energy by 2020, but Ms Davidson will say the potential is far greater.
Environmental campaigners have said the assembly government is being “unrealistic and over ambitious”.
The assembly government began consultation on its so-called Renewable Energy . . .
Plaid demand investigation into windfarm compensation payments
Plaid Cymru’s leader at Westminster, Elfyn Llwyd MP, has laid an Early Day Motion (EDM) demanding an investigation into the procedures for Windfarm compensation payments.
In the EDM, Mr Llwyd argues that the present system often favours international companies rather than the local councils who should be benefiting from the compensation schemes.
Plaid’s parliamentary candidate for Aberconwy, Councillor Phil Edwards raised the issue with Mr Llwyd following concerns he has voiced locally about the compensation process with the Gwynt y Mor windfarm . . .
Noise complaints about one in six wind farms
The cottages around Askam wind farm occupy the perfect spot, looking out to sea over to the isle of Man and inland to the Lake District. The only problem is the noise.
The seven turbines have sparked the most complaints about wind farms in the country. Residents complain of a noise like someone is “mixing cement in the sky” or a “clog is stuck in the tumble dryer” and they are not the only ones.
New figures reveal that at least . . .
Unelected quango to decide on North Wales energy projects
The fate of Wylfa B and the 858 square mile windfarm zone set to be created nine miles off the coast of Anglesey will be decided by an unelected quango based in England.
Powers were yesterday given to the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) to allow it to begin pushing through planning applications for strategic projects.
It will combine eight separate systems into one, dramatically cutting the time it takes for controversial major schemes to get through the planning process from up to . . .
Group confront turbine chiefs at packed meeting
Talybont residents packed the village hall this week to confront chiefs from a wind farm company who plan to erect 80 turbines at Nant y Moch, writes James Nicholas.
The meeting, organised by the Cambrian Mountain Society, was attended by over 200 people and was chaired by Ceredigion MP Mark Williams.
If permission is granted, construction of up to 80 wind turbines could begin as early as 2013, with developers Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) saying: “The turbines will make a . . .
Veto for windfarm near Presteigne
Protestors finally got the outcome they were hoping for this month – seven years after plans were submitted for a windfarm near Presteigne.
Powys County Council’s planning committee unanimously refused to allow three 90-metre turbines, a 60-metre mast and a control building to be built at Llanfinhangel Nant Melan, New Radnor.
The application, made in 2002, drew significant complaints and sparked various protests from householders and conservation groups concerned about site traffic and various other impacts.
Pentre Tump wind farm unanimously refused by Powys County Council
Borders residents finally got the outcome they were hoping for this month – seven years after controversial plans were submitted for a windfarm near Presteigne.
Powys County Council’s planning committee unanimously refused to allow three 90-metre turbines, a 60-metre mast and a control building to be built at Llanfinhangel Nant Melan, New Radnor at a meeting on February 2.
The application, made in 2002 before N Power became the Cornwall Light and Power Company, drew significant complaints and sparked various protests from . . .
Protest meeting against 80 Nant y Moch wind turbines
A group opposed to plans to build up to 80 wind turbines near Aberystwyth are staging a protest meeting later.
The Cambrian Mountains Society said proposals for a wind farm at Nant y Moch would ruin views from Pumlumon Fawr – the range’s highest peak.
The group will hold its meeting in nearby Talybont at 1930 GMT.
The company behind the plans for the turbines has said the plan would significantly contribute to renewable energy targets.
Last year, members of the Cambrian Mountains Society . . .
Online petition against huge mid Wales windfarm
Campaigners objecting to a massive wind farm on a mountain where Welsh prince Owain Glyndwr staged a decisive battle have set up an online petition.
CMS (the Cambrian Mountains Society) are against the construction of more than 100 turbines, each 140m high, could go up on Mynydd Hyddgen.
Developers Airtricity, the renewable energy development division of Scottish and Southern Energy, won an Assembly tender for the wind farm, at Nant-y-Moch in the Pumlumon hills above Machynlleth, straddling Powys and Ceredigion.
The site – . . .
