Working with the communities around Nant y Moch
19 February 2009
Eluned Lewis has joined Airtricity as the new Community Liaison Officer for the Nant y Moch Wind Farm Development.
A former pupil of Ysgol Penweddig Aberystwyth, Welsh speaking Eluned lives in Capel Bangor and is conveniently placed near the proposed development at Nant y Moch reservoir in an area of Forestry Commission Wales land and privately owned agricultural land between Talybont and Nant y Moch.
A former Development Officer for Pentir Pumlumon and Menter Aberystwyth she has considerable experience of working with community regeneration projects.
In her new role she will act as the first point of contact between the community and the developers, Airtricity,
The work involves working with communities surrounding the Nant y Moch wind farm, providing the community with up to date information throughout the development process as the project moves towards planning submission at the end of 2009. Eluned said that the Nant y Moch wind farm development provides new development opportunities for communities in north Ceredigion.
“I feel really excited about the potential this development represents for local communities.
“One of my first tasks is to develop a detailed plan for us to consult with the principal communities, interest parties and wider public on the Nant y Moch wind farm throughout the lifecycle of its development.
“I am also overseeing the creation of a Community Liaison Group, a group of local people representing the communities surrounding the development. Members of the Community Liaison Group will be asked to agree the Community Engagement Plan and to monitor how we are working with the local community,” she said.
Over the next few months she will also be working to develop a dedicated website for the Nant y Moch wind farm development which will include up to date information about the project and place the project in its national context.
Eluned works from the Airtricity Office at Y Plas in Machynlleth and can be contacted on 01654 702720 or via email on eluned.lewis@airtricity.com.
Background Information
Airtricity is the renewable energy development division of Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) and is responsible for the developments of onshore and offshore wind farms as well as developing hydro and marine projects.
Airtricity has been awarded an Option Agreement by the Welsh Assembly to seek planning permission to develop a wind farm on FCW managed land at Nant y Moch, otherwise known as SSA D.
The development will provide enough electricity approximately equivalent to the demand of up to 78,000 homes.
Nant y Moch SSA D is an area of land identified by the National Assembly for Wales as a strategic area for the delivery of large scale wind energy generation. There are seven strategic search areas in Wales. This is to support UK climate change action, achieve Wales renewable energy targets for 2010 and 2020 and to ensure security in our electricity supply. SSA D was identified in Technical Advice Note 8: Renewable Energy issued in 2005.