The UK government is offering huge financial incentives to private businesses to build onshore wind turbine plants in Wales. The incentive comes as a guaranteed price well above market rates for the energy produced. As if this were not bad enough, the developers get paid even when the power is not required.

This severe market distortion is why onshore developers are scrambling to build wind turbines on every available hilltop in rural Wales. This will generate huge profits, mainly for overseas investors, and yield no material long-term benefit to Wales. 

Delegating essential infrastructure construction design to private businesses driven by profit motives is a feeble basis for a long-term renewable energy strategy.

Cadw Cambria is calling for the removal of these power price guarantees and for the Welsh Government to provide a top-down renewable power strategy that considers the long-term social and economic interests of local communities.