Charity launches map showing proposed energy projects across Wales
Stephen Price
A Welsh countryside charity has produced a ‘map that the Welsh Government are still unable to produce themselves’ which features proposed energy projects across Wales.
Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales, The Welsh Countryside Charity (CPRW) say that they support renewable energy solutions like wind and solar when they work in harmony with Wales’ landscapes and communities.
They write: “Our goal is to ensure that the transition to clean energy happens responsibly, balancing progress with the protection of the countryside we all cherish. Unfortunately, the map below is a sobering reality of the impact to our Welsh country.”
“This map shows the routes of all new pylon lines proposed by Bute/Green GEN Cymru. Existing and planned wind farms are shown, those proposed by Bute Energy as well as other companies.”
Map
Discussing the map further, the charity share: “At CPRW, we believe in a future powered by renewable energy. We are fully supportive of wind, solar and other sustainable solutions that help combat climate change and reduce carbon emissions.
“However, we also believe that renewable projects must respect the unique beauty, biodiversity and heritage of Wales’ rural landscapes.
“Our goal is to ensure that the transition to clean energy happens responsibly, balancing progress with the protection of the countryside we all cherish.
Seeking donations to further their work, they continue: “Join us in championing a thriving future for the Welsh countryside – every contribution helps no matter how big or small.
“Your donation directly supports vital work, including funding legal challenges, supporting community conservation projects, raising awareness and advocating for policies that protect our environment and support thriving communities.
“Join the movement today and make a lasting impact. Donate today. Thank you.”
The charity adds: “The map is produced by Deeproot Software, released under the Creative Commons CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence. Information presented on the map is not guaranteed as accurate, but the features are intended to give a good idea of location.”
CPRW
CPRW has been advocating on behalf of rural Wales since 1928. In the 1930s, CPRW played a major role in proposing, campaigning for and ultimately, the creation of our National Parks.
They say that they are “committed and passionate about safeguarding our countryside for the benefit of our communities, our biodiversity, our rivers, our landscapes, our language and culture and our visitors.
“We care about our countryside and want people to enjoy and discover the beauty and bounty of our countryside, and our local members work hard to make this happen.”
Cerys Matthews, musician, author and broadcaster is CPRW’s President. Cerys is passionate about the Welsh countryside and our values, vision and cause.
The charity currently has a number of other active campaigns you can get involved with across Wales.
Their current top campaigns are, Stop Nant Mithil Wind Farm in Powys, Save Penrhos on Anglesey and Save our Welsh Rivers.
View CPRW’s Wind, Solar and Pylon Map here.
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How many of these developments are paying generous business rates that can be rebated to ctax payers so local people feel the benefit of this resource extraction?
One thing for sure is that whatever they pay in business rates will never flow back to benefit local communities. This is an extractive industry with long scars across the countryside in the medium term and slowly decaying skeletons of turbines in the longer term. Alternative green methods have been bumped to the back of the queue by astute lobbying and dumb politicians. Just look at Milliband as living proof of how a dimwit can get hold of the levers of power.
Guardian reporting today that wind has saved the UK 104 billion since 2010. Still not a perfect system but deform and Tory would have you pay higher bills rather than reduce them.
Same physics & maths teachers as Ed Zero I imagine.
Here’s one for the nature lovers.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s44358-025-00078-1
From the same article: “these negative consequences can be mitigated”
It’s all about money money money and sod the landscape. It’s about time the Senedd concentrated more in making money for Cymru and not for foreign developers to just march in here, do what they want and walk away with their pockets full of cash and leaving no local benefits. It beggars belief that Senedd members even consider such non-benefitting developments. Nothing seems to have changed since developers plundered our coalfields and left one hell of a dangerous mess (unstable coal tips) which the government of the day ignored. I wonder if any politicians will benefit?
Energy for England d via foreign companies. What’s not to like?
4 words, : Never again, Cofiwch Drywerin.
Except that two of the proposed power lines are to feed electricity to South Wales to displace gas burning in Pembroke made from imported LNG from Qatar.
Welsh government could have produced the map, they just didn’t want to do that the public can’t see the scale of the developments planned! And WG are hardly unbiased, they have a financial interest in getting these projects running having invested heavily themselves. Offshore wind in the Celtic deep will dwarf the output of all the onshore sites combined, and no need for new pylon lines either! Welsh hills and valleys destroyed for English water, coal, conifer plantations, and now wind power.
“This map shows the routes of all new pylon lines proposed by Bute/Green GEN Cymru.”
Henceforth, I vow to always refer to either Bute Energy or Green GEN Cymru as “Bute/Green GEN Cymru”.
For instance: ”unbundling” ensures that energy production and supply are distinct from the operation of transmission networks, promoting fair competition in the energy market and helping prevent conflicts of interest that could lead to higher prices for consumers. For example, Bute/Green GEN Cymru propose to erect a 132kV overhead line to transport energy from Bute/Green GEN Cymru’s Garreg Fawr Energy Park.”
Amddyffin Mynydd Epynt.
The contradiction for me is that these ‘green’ projects actually do significant harm to nature and green spaces alongside the obsession to build on greenfield sites rather than brownfield . The nut nut zero crowd seem to ignore this .
A quick win would be to remove the VAT exemption on greenfield developments but keep it on brownfield. That should help offset any additional brownfield expenses such as cleaning up former industrial plots.
How much subsidy his going to energy companies to build turnbines