Mid Wales wind farms dealt a blow by new ruling
Plans to build wind farms in Mid Wales have been dealt a blow after Prime Minister David Cameron confirmed the government is ruling out future subsidies.
Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies asked Mr Cameron during the first Prime Minister's Questions of the new government whether he was standing by his pledge to end future subsidies for onshore wind.
Mr Cameron said he wanted to "be clear" that there would be no further subsidies and congratulated Mr Davies on his re-election.
He said: "I am very glad to see my honourable friend back in his place.
"He campaigned very hard on this in the last Parliament and in our manifesto we were very, very clear that there will be no more subsidies for onshore windfarms.
"It is time to give local people the decisive say. That is what will happen in England, in Wales – obviously the subsidy regime will be changed because it is a reserved issue, so I think that his desire has now been met."
Mr Davies asked: "Does the Prime Minister agree that any onshore windfarm proposal not already granted planning permission should not expect to receive any public subsidy?"
Plans for five windfarms in Powys are currently being decided on after a public inquiry finished last summer.
If they are given the go ahead, it will pave the way for the Mid Wales Connection Project, which would see National Grid building a massive substation in Cefn Coch, near Llanfair Caereinion and a power line which would carry electricity both overhead and underground to north Shropshire.
Mr Cameron's response was hailed as a massive boost by campaigners.
Jonathan Wilkinson, leader of Montgomeryshire Against Pylons, said: "For David Cameron to say that to Glyn is absolutely brilliant for us and it has to be seen as a huge boost. The developers surely can't have their way now? We are treating this as a major leap in the right direction."
