James Evans has asked the Welsh Government to stop the “industrialisation” of Mid Wales through the erection of wind turbines.

The Brecon and Radnorshire MS said at the Senedd yesterday that “green growth” comes at a cost to communities.

He told Economy Secretary, Rebecca Evans, that many people in his constituency are concerned about the industrialisation of Mid Wales by the erection of large-scale wind turbines.

Mr Evans said: “The First Minister and the Prime Minister's visit to an onshore windfarm caused alarm to many in my constituency, and Ed Miliband's rhetoric isn't really helping either.

“Will the Welsh Government stand up for the people of Mid Wales and stop the industrialisation of the countryside?

“Or will you stand with big co-operations and allow windfarms to be put all over my constituency on the road to net zero?”

Ms Evans said the Welsh Government is “on a journey towards net zero”.

She told Mr Evans: “Renewable energy will absolutely play an important part of that, but there are a range of sources of renewable energy.

“We've talked a lot about floating offshore wind. There’s more traditional offshore wind - solar. We haven't really talked much about community generation and so on.

“There’s a range of ways in which we would go about our journey to net zero and delivering on our approach to renewable energy.

“What is most important is that communities are always involved and engaged - that consultation process is really important.

“That is something in the system that we have to absolutely respect - to give communities the chance to have their say - and also to make sure that the community benefits that are aligned to that are sufficient and appropriate.”

Ms Evans added: “And I think that's one of the things that Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru gives us a real opportunity to consider, and that's community benefits. So, with Welsh Government developing these projects, we'll have the opportunity, I think, to think differently about community benefits, and I'm keen to hear colleagues' views on that.”

Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru is a publicly-owned renewable energy developer established by the Welsh Government.