February 19, 2014
Wales

Have a say on wind farms power link plan

Carmarthen Journal | February 19, 2014 | /www.carmarthenjournal.co.uk

Carmarthenshire residents are being given the chance to have their say on the proposed route of how three wind farms will connect to the national grid.

The consultation for the Brechfa Forest Connection was launched on Monday giving local people the chance to share their views on the proposed routes for a new electricity connection in Carmarthenshire.

Western Power Distribution (WPD) has been tasked by the wind farm developers to feed electricity generated by wind farms planned for the Brechfa Forest area into the national grid.

Now WPD is seeking views on its possible routes, known as route alignment options.

The preferred routes from the Brechfa area to Swansea were first announced in January.

Andrew Hubbold at WPD said: “This period of consultation is an important opportunity for local people to tell us what they think about our proposals and be part of the planning process.

“In developing our plans we have ensured that the views and local expertise of community representatives were considered in the decision making process along with those of our environmental and engineering specialists.

“I am looking forward to hearing people’s views about our plans.”

Consultation with the public will last for eight weeks, and will include public exhibitions.

These events will provide opportunities for the public to see the plans together with the engineering and environmental reports that have informed the proposals.

There will also be the chance to ask members of the project team specific questions and share views with them.

The consultation closes on Friday, April 11, and members of the public are reminded that comments submitted after that date will not be counted.

All the comments made during stage 2 of the consultation will be registered for consideration and summarised in a report, which will be made publicly available later in the year.

The preferred alignment will be announced this summer and following this further detailed environmental and technical surveys will be carried out, WPD will carry out a formal consultation over a four week period in autumn 2014, before submitting the application for consideration to the Planning Inspectorate. Two of the wind farms proposed by RWE Npower Renewables in the Brechfa Forest have already received planning permission from the Secretary of State. (Brechfa Forest East and Brechfa Forest West). RES is promoting the third wind farm – Bryn Llywelyn.

Information about the connection project and the forthcoming consultation events is available on at www.westernpower.co.uk

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/02/19/have-a-say-on-wind-farms-power-link-plan/