'Wonderful Christmas present': Plans for 33-turbine windfarm scrapped
A 33-turbine windfarm will not be built in the countryside near Lake Vyrnwy as officials behind the proposals have ruled it is no longer financially viable.
The project, which would have seen the turbines set up at Dyfnant Forest near Llangadfan, has been stopped after a review by energy company ScottishPower Renewables.
The decision has been hailed as a "wonderful Christmas present" for people living in the area by Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies.
The plan was not one of the wind projects which has been subjected to a public inquiry to decide whether it would be built, but Simon Christian, UK managing director of ScottishPower Renewables, said that process had had an impact on the Dyfnant Forest scheme.
He said: "Unfortunately, with anticipated lengthy planning processes and major grid modernisation required, we are not confident the project can be delivered in a timeframe that would make it financially viable for us.
"We are currently seeking to replace our turbines at Llandinam in Mid Wales, and we await a planning decision following a lengthy public inquiry. We have decided to focus our onshore wind efforts in Wales on this project.
"We have been an active wind power developer in Wales since 1992, and we hope that our association with renewable energy in the country will continue for many years to come. We would like to thank all of the residents, groups and interested parties who have been involved in the consultations during development of Dyfnant."
Mr Davies said: "It is a wonderful Christmas present for the people who live near Lake Vyrnwy and who share my love for the wider Dyfnant Forest area. ScottishPower Renewables' plans were in my opinion ecologically and environmentally disastrous for a beautiful part of Mid Wales.
"This news is a great success for the local protest movement – people whose lives have been blighted by the black cloud of destruction that has hung over their heads for years. The stress, fear and division will be lifted from Dyfnant area.
"There are questions arising from this decision by ScottishPower Renewables. Will the company try to pass on the project to another developer, what cost has been piled on to energy bills by this now aborted project, and whether this announcement will prove to be 'the first domino to fall'?"
Planning inspector Andrew Poulter is deciding on plans to build windfarms in Llanbadarn Fynydd near Llandrindod Wells, Llaithddu near Newtown, Llandinam near Llanidloes, Llanbrynmair near Machynlleth, and Carnedd Wen near Machynlleth, with a 132kV overhead electric line connection from a Llandinam windfarm to the Welshpool substation.
