Foel Gurig, the proposed site for Rhiwlas Energy Park, seen across the tranquil Marsh’s Pool above Llangurig. If both Rhiwlas and Banc Du were to be built, Marsh’s Pool would be ‘bookended’ by 200m turbines at both ends.
One down – but another still open for comments. Have your say on Banc Du by 16 October
With only a few hours to go before the deadline, and with fantastic help from various members (Sandy and Katharine in particular) and locals, not to mention our hard-working Landscape Consultant Kelda Platt, we’ve submitted our Representation on the proposal to build 12 200m turbines and a substation at Rhiwlas above Llangurig (south of the A470 and east of the A44). You can read all about it here.
Banc Du now live for comments
This proposal was only one component of a bigger project, however: a further 6 turbines are proposed to go on Banc Du north west of Llangurig (right next to the smaller existing turbines of Bryn Blaen wind farm – and we do wonder what the owners of that make of what seems a blatant intent to “steal their wind”). The deadline for commenting on that aspect of the project runs until 16 October; you can see the full details of it on Planning and Environment Decisions Wales’ website here. We’re hopeful that there will be an ObjectNow page for Banc Du soon which will help you to generate an objection – but remember, there’s no better response than a truly personal one explaining why the area matters to you (personally, or due to the impact on local tourism, birds or wildlife).
And after that?
What about the third component, the pylon chain north to Llyn Lort? Green Gen Cymru (Part of the Bute Energy group) have been working on this for several years but struggling to settle on a definite route. They say they will be consulting later this autumn on a line of pylons with just one section left uncertain, and in theory filing an application early next year. Of course, since they started working on this project Plaid Cymru have formed the new Welsh Government with their manifesto pledging that all 132kV and above lines must be underground wherever possible. So it may be that the route Green Gen are currently proposing will need yet further review to establish whether it can be dug underground instead. .But however that works out, it will certainly be the part that holds the whole project up since there will be no power output unless there is a grid connection to take it to customers. This saga still has some way to run.
PS Save our Peat!
if you haven’t yet signed our petition calling for a Senedd debate on banning all future development on Wales’ peatlands, you can read the petition in full and, if you agree, sign it here.
And please tell your family, friends and colleagues too.