A series of public exhibitions will be held later this month to give people in the area a chance to look at proposals for a major new windfarm in the Cambrian Mountains between Talybont and Nant y Moch.The developers, Airtricity, the renewable energy division of Scottish & Southern Electricity, are hoping to apply for planning permission early next year. Because of the size of the proposals (60-80 turbines), the decision will ultimately be made by the Westminster government's Department of Energy and Climate Change rather than Ceredigion and Powys Councils, as would be the case with a smaller development. However Councils, including local Community Councils, will be consulted.
The developers say the windfarm would provide enough electricity for 65,000 homes, i.e. roughly twice the number of homes in Ceredigion. The proposal is bound to be controversial, not least among environmentalists, who are split down the middle on the windfarms issue.
The exhibitions, with project officials present for questioning, will be at:
Ysgol Syr John Rhys, Ponterwyd, on 16 June 5-8pm
Y Plas, Machynlleth on 17 June 11am-2pm
Ystafell Haearn, Ffwrnais / Iron Room, Furnace, on 17 June 5-8pm
Neuadd Penrhyn-coch, on 18 June 2-8pm
Neuadd Goffa Talybont, 19 June 2-8pm
More details of the plans (from the developers' point of view) can be found at: http://www.nantymochwindfarm.com/home.html