September 6, 2012
Wales

Protesters attack revamped plans for Gower turbines

South Wales Evening Post | www.thisissouthwales.co.uk 6 September 2012

New wind farm plans have been submitted for land north of Swansea.

RWE npower renewables wants to build 16 127-metre turbines at Mynydd y Gwair, nine miles north of the city.

The company’s previous 19-turbine application for the site was turned down. It has removed three turbines in response to concerns over an area of peat, and said it had gone to great lengths to listen to people’s feedback.

Opposition group Save Our Common Mountain Environment (Socme) said it was prepared for another long fight.

The majority of the site is common land owned by the Somerset Trust, and lies within one of seven areas in Wales earmarked as suitable for a concentration of onshore wind farms.

RWE said the scheme could potentially produce enough electricity to meet the annual average consumption of some 24,700 homes.

It added that, according to a study it commissioned, the construction of the wind farm could generate up to £8.5 million in South and West Wales, on top of annual fund of up to £240,000 to be spent on the local community.

The UK is expected to generate more and more renewable energy.

RWE project developer Gwenllian Elias said: “RWE has a long-term commitment to Swansea and the surrounding area. Subject to gaining consent, .RWE would offer a community investment package delivered annually to create a valuable, long-term and reliable source of income for the local community.”

Socme chairman Glyn Morgan, who grazes sheep at Mynydd y Gwair, described the area as “one of the last wildernesses in West Glamorgan”.

He said RWE should have taken stock of the opposition to its previous scheme and the planning inspector’s refusal.

“No should mean no,” he said.

“Mynydd y Gwair is not the place to put a wind farm, yet they are still pursuing it. It makes a mockery of the planning system.”

Mr Morgan added that Mynydd y Betws, a few miles to the north, was changing for the worse due to a wind farm under construction there.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/09/06/protesters-attack-revamped-plans-for-gower-turbines/