Protestors demonstrate against 'shocking' solar farm proposals which could 'rip out' countryside

North Wales Live

2 days ago

More than 100 protestors demonstrated against proposed, vast solar energy farms on Anglesey today.
They are concerned about two plans - the Alaw Môn projects - which would reportedly produce 160MW of energy - and Maen Hir - which could produce over 350MW. The proposals by Enso Energy and Lightsource BP on Anglesey, could cover up to 3,700 acres of mostly farmland on about two per cent of the island.
It is understood that Lightsource BP, who are responsible for the Maen Hir scheme, say they are still consulting with local communities, and that they appreciate the feedback they have received so far.
North Wales Live has asked Enso Energy - the developers of the Alaw Môn scheme - for a statement.
Today one resident Sarah Pye, a mother-of-two from Rhos-Goch in the north of the island, addressed the demonstrators in Llangefni in Welsh and English. She told them: "We live in the area of the Lightsource BP solar development known as Maen Hir.
"Not only will our view be turned from green to black but they want to rip out our land and put a cable through it. My partner and I have spent the last four years rewilding our land and planting over 4,000 trees to create a mini-forest in Rhos-Goch.
"Additionally, we have put all of our life savings into creating a tourism business to make our dream of living in a smallholding a reality. (But) out of the blue we received letters from Lightsource BP wanting to survey our land.
"They decided that they may want to use our land for a solar development. You can imagine what a shock that was to us. We had no idea that four years ago this was a development plan not just for Rhos-Goch but for Anglesey too."
Ms Pye also warned that if proposals are approved tourists could stay away, "Would you go on holiday to an island covered in black solar panels?" she asked.
Ms Pye said she learned through Plaid Cymru members and others that in fact two solar farms were proposed which was a "shock". But she met some amazing people and formed the "No More Solar Farms Ynys Mon Group".
Also today Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said he is worried about the plans to "exploit" Anglesey. "We are very concerned here on Anglesey about the exploitation that is being planned by companies that are going to make a profit of millions of pounds from stealing our fertile agricultural land," said Mr Iorwerth, who is also MS for Ynys Mon.
"There are other more innovative ways of producing solar energy - on our terms here in Anglesey. There is a recent example of using a solar cover in the county council car park, for example."
Others to address the protestors today included Plaid Cymru MP for Ynys Mon Llinos Medi and Gareth Winston Roberts, who lives near the proposed site of the Maen Hir scheme.
He said he wasn't against solar energy but added: "We are losing our young people from Anglesey, and so we want to secure work in Anglesey - we are talking about Dryweryn here on the Anglesey of Mother Wales."
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On the Alaw Mon proposal, Enso Energy claim on their website the park would power 33,935 homes and create 160MW of solar generation, providing renewable electricity for distribution to the National Grid.
An underground cable would connect the solar farm and battery energy storage facility to the substation at Wylfa Power Station. Enso Energy has said: "We will use existing farm access points at Nantanog, Chwaen Gach, Chwaen Bach and Tan Rallt to access the site during construction, which we anticipate will take 12 months, and operation."
According to Enso Energy, the 160MW plan would produce enough electricity to meet the needs of all the homes on the island.
Lightsource BP's intention is to erect the solar panels across three sites, which would produce enough green energy to support over 130,000 homes. The Maen Hir development would reportedly be almost five times larger than the largest active solar farm in the UK.