Campaigners demand landscape protection and underground cables while environmentalists warn Wales cannot slow the clean energy transition

A PROTEST took place outside Senedd Cymru on Wednesday (Feb 11) as campaigners gathered to oppose large-scale wind farms, energy parks and new overhead pylons across rural Wales.

Residents from mid and west Wales, including farming families, countryside groups and community activists, assembled on the steps of the Welsh Parliament holding banners reading “Hands off Mid Wales”, “Rural life matters” and “Protect Welsh bogs”.

Many said they support renewable energy in principle but fear that current proposals would industrialise rural landscapes while delivering little benefit to local people.

Among those addressing the crowd was Jane Dodds, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, who renewed calls for ministers to require electricity cables to be placed underground rather than carried on new lines of pylons.

Calls for underground cables

Dodds said Wales must not lose its countryside in the rush to decarbonise.

“We cannot afford to lose our countryside,” she told protesters. “Once these wind turbines and pylons are in place, the impact on our landscapes will be long lasting and, in many cases, irreversible.

“Local people feel their concerns are being overlooked while large developers push ahead with major projects. That is not how the transition to green energy should work.”

She pointed to a recent budget agreement which secured £1 million for a Visual Impact Innovation Fund to trial undergrounding technologies and explore alternatives to overhead infrastructure in sensitive areas.

“We need a balanced approach,” she said. “We must move away from fossil fuels, but we must also protect the beauty and character of rural Wales.”

Why people are protesting

Speakers and attendees raised concerns about:

• visual impact of turbines and pylons on open countryside
• effects on peatland, wildlife and habitats
• loss of productive farmland
• heavy construction traffic through small villages
• profits flowing to distant shareholders rather than host communities

Several campaigners argued that decisions feel “done to” communities rather than shaped with them, with limited consultation and little long-term return.

Some called for smaller-scale, locally owned schemes instead of what they described as “mega-projects”.

Climate groups defend renewables

In response to the protest, Climate Cymru said Wales must not step back from wind power and other renewables, warning that continued reliance on fossil fuels would worsen both the climate and cost-of-living crises.

Stan Townsend, spokesperson for the group, said: “Rising energy bills and energy insecurity are already affecting families, farmers and businesses across the country.

“Turning away from renewables would mean deeper dependence on volatile, expensive, polluting fossil fuels. We need clean, home-grown energy to protect people and the planet.”

He said Wales has some of the best wind resources in Europe and a major opportunity to cut bills, create skilled jobs and strengthen energy security.

Community ownership ‘key to support’

Community Energy Wales said many objections could be eased if local people had ownership or a financial stake in developments.

Leanne Wood, co-executive director, said: “If communities can part own developments, many of the objections to new wind turbines can be overcome. Ownership brings control.

“This would lock the profits into those communities and potentially reduce bills.”

The organisation is working to enable locally generated renewable electricity to be sold directly to local consumers so that wealth stays within towns and villages.

A wider debate

The demonstration highlights a growing divide over how Wales meets its net zero targets.

While environmental groups stress the urgent need to expand renewable energy quickly, rural campaigners say the Wales-wide push must not come at the expense of landscapes, farming and community consent.

Dodds urged the Welsh Government to strengthen planning, consultation and benefit schemes so that communities see clear advantages.

For many at the Senedd, the message was clear: renewable energy is necessary — but only if local people share the control, the profits and the decisions.