March 2026
Protecting our Landscapes
Many will remember previous large-scale windfarms' proposals of over a decade ago, where communities reacted in force against the total lack of consideration and empathy for residents and landscapes shown by the National Grid and developers. It is vital that renewable energy companies ensure that they take communities with them, rather than imposing projects upon Mid Wales.
A company called Green GEN Cymru has proposed to develop a 132 kV electricity distribution connection to connect proposed wind farms in Powys to the existing national electricity transmission network in Shropshire. The company held a statutory consultation on its Vyrnwy Frankton project during 2025. I provided my own views opposing this current proposed connection.
The Project comprises a 132 kV collector substation near Cefn Coch, Powys, and approximately 45km of new overhead line on steel lattice pylons (average height of 28.5m) across areas of the Vyrnwy Valley in North Powys, to a switching station connecting to the national electricity network near Lower Frankton, Shropshire. More recently Green GEN has reviewed the previous route for the connection project and has made some changes which will now impact residents who were not previously affected. I would encourage people to respond to this latest consultation, link here www.greengenvyrnwyfrankton.com
It is vital that, as our power needs increase and more renewable power sources come online (such as farm scale renewables), that we do have improved grid connections. My concern is that the proposed line would do little to help such projects in Mid Wales.
Welsh Ministers have previously stated to me that Welsh Government’s policy is that transmission lines should be underground opposed to overground. However Welsh Government guidance states that a balanced view must be taken against costs which would render otherwise acceptable projects unviable. During 2025, I asked the First Minister to explore the undergrounding of electricity transmission cables. I questioned the First Minister on why undergrounding remains largely dismissed as financially unviable when countries such as Germany and the Netherlands have successfully implemented policies requiring the undergrounding of similar size power lines. I have been calling on Welsh Government for some time to update its Planning Policy Wales document so that the undergrounding of new infrastructure for conveying electricity should be an absolute rather than a preferred position, and that the policy should state ‘New power lines should be laid underground.
Apart from the size and scope of Green GEN Cymru’s project not being appropriate for the area, I have other concerns that there will be greater risks caused from flooding, because of the impact from large amounts of concrete that will be used to build the pylon foundations
The proposed pylon line is being driven by several wind energy developers who are proposing large scale wind farm developments throughout Mid Wales. I have significant concerns about many of the schemes, with some developers proposing to build wind turbines up to 230 metres in areas of currently unspoiled landscape.
Of the several proposals and consultations for wind farm developments currently taking place across mid Wales. I have put forward my own objections. Whilst my own objections vary between each proposal, there are common themes which include, the proximity of turbines to residential properties, which will also impact property prices, the Size of proposed turbines, concerns on the effect to local roads and infrastructure, and effect on animals, birds, nature and ecology. Using huge offshore scale turbines onshore is not appropriate, and the industrialisation of our landscape with large-scale windfarms and pylons criss-crossing Mid Wales hills and valleys is not acceptable.
I continue to meet with and work closely with Montgomeryshire Against Pylons (MAP). I attended a recent meeting in February (2026) in Meifod organised by MAP which was very well attended. The meeting focussed on the Justice for Wales case put forward by a group of local people and landowners to stop coercion and threats of legal action by Green GEN, to defend fairness and protect local communities. The case has been granted permission to go forward to a High Court Hearing. There is more information on this in the following link on the MAP website https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/justice-for-wales/
I would encourage people to attend events and respond to consultations. If you agree with my views, and the views of MAP, I would also encourage you to sign up to their newsletter by visiting https://www.montgomeryshireagainstpylons.co.uk
I also attended and spoke at another protest against pylons and large windfarms on the steps of the Senedd in Cardiff Bay on the 11th February. I was pleased to see the hundreds of people who made the effort to travel to the Senedd and still willing to stand up and react in force against these huge windfarms and pylons and the impact they will have on our rural communities.
The fight is not over, we made our voices heard before and we will make our voices heard again.