Political upheaval in Cardiff puts 200-mile pylon plan in peril

Windswept hills, forests and acres of farmland make mid-Wales a bucolic haven – but its isolated splendour has also hampered economic progress.

Away from the north and south coasts, and the Valleys, much of the country is deemed to suffer 'hidden poverty' – with few jobs other than in farming, forestry and tourism, plus poor transport and infrastructure. So a £1 billion project for a 200-mile grid linking dozens of new wind farms is sparking hopes of a boost to Wales's rural economy.

But the Green Gen Cymru project hangs in the balance as Wales faces seismic political upheaval.

Labour, understood to be the party most supportive of the scheme, faces losing control of the Welsh Senedd for the first time since devolution in 1999.

At the Caerphilly by-election ten days ago, nationalists Plaid Cymru took 47 per cent of the vote, with Reform UK on 36 per cent and Labour – defending the Senedd seat – third with just 11 per cent.

Last month, a poll suggested Labour could finish third when all-out Welsh elections are held in May.

Reform UK, forecast to win the most seats in those elections, has spoken out against Green Gen Cymru's pylons 'wrecking our precious environment', while Plaid Cymru – set to come second –favours having cables underground or on 'low wooden poles'.

Emphasising the benefits, Green Gen Cymru's boss Stuart George said: 'There's a remarkable gap across Wales. It's devoid of any transmission-level infrastructure between the Valleys and north coast. Our network will enable economic growth to be stimulated which is currently very difficult as they don't have any power grid.

'Business can't expand, the population can't electrify, they can't get electrical vehicles, electric home-heating systems.'

Locals close to one of the three proposed lines accept the need for the 60 miles of cables between Radnor Forest near Llandrindod Wells and Carmarthen.

But Tina Roberts, at Llandovery council, said: 'If they ran them underground there wouldn't be a protest. Everyone here is anti the pylons, it's such a beautiful area right on the Brecons.'

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George promised economic benefits 'in the billions', adding: 'It will enable businesses to locate there, for existing firms to expand and the public to electrify their lives.'

He said the scheme would provide 'more opportunities for young people to stay in their communities rather than move to find jobs.'

The project's main backer is Danish energy firm Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, which has put in £600 million in funding.

While George recognised concern about the 'visual impact' of the pylons, which could double as mobile phone masts, he said they would be smaller than others at 90ft high. But he admitted less than 10 per cent of the cables would run underground – only in the most sensitive landscapes – arguing burying the power lines would be 'five and ten times, and up to 20 times' more costly. For some, the scheme brings memories of Welsh valleys being flooded to provide water for Birmingham and Liverpool.

Roberts said: 'Many people believe the power lines are for the benefit of England, but that's just me reading between the lines.'

A Carmarthenshire landowner, who didn't want to be named as the issue divides farmers, agreed, saying: 'No one here wants it, except for the few who are being well compensated for having these monstrosities on their land.'

Green Gen Cymru's power lines would connect wind farms providing 3.3gigawatts of power – enough to power up to 3 million homes.