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Wind farms: Ed Davey hails Pen-y-Cymoedd investment boost | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A giant onshore wind farm in south Wales will attract billions of pounds investment to the UK, according to UK Energy Secretary Ed Davey. | |
He was visiting the £400m Pen-y-Cymoedd project between Neath and Aberdare which will create the largest onshore wind farm in Wales or England. | |
Developers say the scheme will generate power for 140,000 homes from 76 turbines and create 300 jobs. | Developers say the scheme will generate power for 140,000 homes from 76 turbines and create 300 jobs. |
Construction work on the project is due to start next year. | |
"It will attract billions in investment into the UK and support hundreds of skilled green jobs while providing homes with clean energy," said Mr Davey. | |
"Offshore and onshore wind is an important contributor to our energy mix," he said. | |
"We have provided certainty early to onshore and offshore wind investors and now see significant investment decisions being made that will benefit the UK's economy for years to come." | |
Work to clear forestry land - leased from the Welsh government - and to build forest roads began last winter. | Work to clear forestry land - leased from the Welsh government - and to build forest roads began last winter. |
Work on the turbines is set to start by February. | |
Neither of the local councils concerned - Neath Port Talbot and Rhondda Cynon Taf - raised objections to the proposals. | |
'Sustain jobs' | 'Sustain jobs' |
But the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales and a local residents action group in Glyncorrwg claim there would be a huge cost to the environment and a visual intrusion on the landscape for miles around. | |
Swedish-based developer Vattenfall has promised a community benefits package potentially worth £45m over the site's 25-year lifetime. | Swedish-based developer Vattenfall has promised a community benefits package potentially worth £45m over the site's 25-year lifetime. |
The company said more than 600 firms have registered to be included in the project. | The company said more than 600 firms have registered to be included in the project. |
Welsh firm Spencer Environmental Care Associates has been clearing trees to enable wide and long vehicles to get into the site. | Welsh firm Spencer Environmental Care Associates has been clearing trees to enable wide and long vehicles to get into the site. |
Business development manager Charles Jukes said the company's involvement in the Pen-y-Cymoedd project had been "very important" as it came during the recession and had been "vital for us to sustain jobs and build for the future". | Business development manager Charles Jukes said the company's involvement in the Pen-y-Cymoedd project had been "very important" as it came during the recession and had been "vital for us to sustain jobs and build for the future". |