UK Government Refuses Four Out Of Five Wind Farms In Wales
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The UK Department of Energy and Climate Change announced Monday it had refused four out of five submitted wind farms in Wales.
Announced by the UK’s Energy Ministre, Andrea Leadsom, on Monday, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) refused five out of six proposed energy infrastructure projects set for Powys, in Mid-Wales. Of the six submissions, only the Llandinam onshore wind farm repowering was given consent.
“Careful consideration has been given to each application, and the planning and energy issues involved,” said an unnamed DECC spokesperson.
The other decisions are:
- Llanbadarn Fynydd onshore wind farm refused;
- Llaithddu onshore wind farm refused;
- Llanbrynmair onshore wind farm refused;
- Carnedd Wen onshore wind farm refused; and
- Llandinam to Welshpool Substation Overhead Power Line connection refused.
Responding to the news, RenewableUK Cymru, the trade association which represents the renewable energy industry in Wales (and offspring of RenewableUK, which represents the renewable energy industry for the whole of the UK), was deeply disappointed in the decision.
“The news will come as a devastating blow to the many businesses in mid Wales and beyond who were set to benefit from jobs in the construction of the wind farms, plus the wider supply chain,” as expressed on its website.
“Back in 2013 I questioned whether Powys could afford to lose the £50 million investment these wind farms were set to bring to the area,” explained David Clubb, Director of RenewableUK Cymru. “It seems that with today’s decision, that investment into Mid Wales will be lost for good, and the people of Wales will be the poorer for it.”
“Given the blows the UK Government are raining down onto the renewable energy sector on both consents and subsidies, ministers will be heading to the Paris climate discussions with their credibility in tatters.”
As David Clubb alludes to, this comes in the wake of the UK Government’s existing plans to shatter the country’s renewable energy industry by sharply cutting financial governmental aid. Investors are likely to look away from the UK for a little while, much as they did in Australia, as the country settles its renewable energy goals and priorities.
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