Shropshire Star

Announcement on Shropshire and Mid Wales windfarms held back

An announcement on a public inquiry into five windfarms is not likely to be made until July.

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The Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) was expected to make an announcement on the outcome of the public inquiry this week.

But sources now say they believe the decision will not be made until next month, although the DECC says no date has been set for an announcement.

A spokesman said: "We can't confirm when the announcement on the public inquiry will be made."

In March, a leaked report suggested three of the five windfarms planned for Mid Wales and subject to the inquiry will be given the go-ahead by the Government.

The proposed windfarms consist of between 17 and 65 turbines reaching up to 450ft tall.

According to the report in March, planning inspector Andrew Poulter has recommended permission be given for the windfarms, following a year-long public inquiry.

They each consist of between 17 and 65 turbines up to 450ft tall. A report with recommendations was delivered to the then-environment secretary Ed Davey in December.

If the five windfarms are given the go ahead, it could pave the way for the National Grid's Mid Wales Connection Project which would link the power generated by the windfarms to the national supply.

The whole scheme – and the future of onshore wind – was thrown into doubt earlier this month when Prime Minister David Cameron said there would be no further subsidies for developments.

Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies, said there is still much ambiguity about whether future wind farms will be entitled to any government funding, particularly those - such as in Mid Wales - that are in the process of going through the planning procedure.

"I believe that any wind farm scheme that didn't have planning permission on the day of the election, will now not be eligible for government subsidy," he said.

"However I do not know what the government position will be on those that are in the process of the planning procedure, or how subsidies will change for those already built."

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