Welsh Government Consults on Underground-First Electricity Network Policy
The Welsh Government is consulting on how new electricity infrastructure should be developed in Wales, with a focus on balancing the need for a modern power network with the protection of local communities, landscapes and the environment.
New electricity infrastructure must benefit Wales
Welsh Energy Minister Adam Price said the changes needed to how energy is generated and used in Wales will require new transmission infrastructure, but acknowledged that it could affect local communities and the environment.
“We know that the necessary changes to the way we generate and use energy in Wales will require new transmission infrastructure, but we also know that new infrastructure can have an impact on local communities and the environment that supports them,” he said.
“We want to see infrastructure that is meticulously designed to provide maximum benefit to Wales while minimizing impact on the environment and the communities that host it.”
Green Gen Cymru supports the consultation
Andrew Hardcastle, executive director of Green Gen Cymru, welcomed the Welsh Government’s consultation and its recognition of the importance of delivering the electricity infrastructure Wales needs while respecting the landscape, environment and local communities.
“Like all electricity transmission companies across the UK, we believe there is no one-size-fits-all solution to the development of new power networks,” he said.
“Our approach is to use the right infrastructure in the right places, utilizing a variety of technologies such as underground cables, wooden poles, and the recently announced low-profile monopoles.”
The company said it was pleased that the consultation recognized the potential role of visually unobtrusive overhead infrastructure, including monopoles, and sought evidence on their use.
Welsh Conservatives welcome electricity grid policy consultation
The Welsh Conservative Party also welcomed the policy consultation.
The party’s environment spokesperson, Andrew RT Davies, said Wales needs a modern electricity grid to support economic growth, but argued that local communities should not have to accept infrastructure that detracts from the country’s natural landscape.
“We know Wales needs a modern electricity grid to support economic growth, but local communities don’t have to accept an eyesore that detracts from a beautiful natural landscape that deserves to be preserved,” he said.
Consultation deadline
The Welsh Government’s consultation on its underground-first policy for 11–132 kV electricity lines in Wales runs until January 15, 2027.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk