Residents to have their say on huge wind energy plan

CONSULTATION begins this month on a huge wind energy scheme in Neath Port Talbot.

Nuon Renewables wants to build scores of giant wind turbines over a huge stretch of land between the Neath, Dulais, Afan and Rhondda valleys.

Over 100 of the structures could spring up across a land mass running into tens of thousands of square metres.

If approved by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), the wind farm could be up and running by 2012/13.

The Pen y Cymoedd wind energy project would be built in the Coed Morgannwg forestry estate to the south of the Heads of the Valleys road (A465) between Neath and Aberdare; to the north of Maerdy, Treorchy and Glyncorrwg, and to the east of Tonmawr.

It is expected to generate up to 300MW for the National Grid — compared with 350MW at the Prenergy woodchip power plant earmarked for Port Talbot docks.

The first stage of consultation with local communities regarding the Pen y Cymoedd project takes place from January to March, 2009.

The public will be able to have a say and take part in the design stage of the project, looking at issues such as developing the wind farm layouts, reviewing key constraints and other technical issues.

Eight drop-in events are being held this month, all between 11.30am and 8.30pm.

Four of the events will be held in Neath Port Talbot: Tonmawr Rugby Club on Thursday, January 22; Glynneath Town Hall on Saturday, January 24; the Old Town Hall, Neath, on Thursday January 29, and in the Upper Afan Valley Sports Centre, Cymmer on Saturday, January 31.

Nuon Renewables' regional development manager Stephen Holdroyd, said: "Ongoing consultation with the local communities is a key commitment.

"We want to recognise all the potential benefits — financial, social, and environmental — that this development can bring to local communities and local businesses, whilst also fully recognising and tackling concerns and issues that people will have."