DECC today announced that all the projects in the mid Wales public inquiry – except the Llandinam repowering – have been refused consent. Without the substation consent, the repowering project may also struggle.
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.
This set of refusals also eliminates the possibility of many tens of millions of pounds of community benefit which were set to flow to the region, along with business rates and land rental.
The economic, social and environmental benefits to mid Wales are of little consequence to the Minister
Commenting on the decision, David Clubb said:
“Back in 2013 I asked the question – ‘Powys, where’s your £50 million‘. 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 that 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.”