A joint public inquiry will be held into two applications for windfarms in Powys, mid-Wales.

Vattenfall’s proposed Llanbadarn Fynydd scheme (130-250 MW), and RWE npower’s proposed Carnedd Wen scheme (59.5 MW) will be considered simultaneously.

The government called the inquiry after Powys County Council objected to both schemes.

Two additional schemes in the pipeline may also be added to the same inquiry later, if Powys objects to those too.

Energy minister Charles Hendry said: “The county council in Powys has maintained its objection to these two proposals for wind farms in mid-Wales. In these circumstances the legislation provides for a public inquiry at which all the evidence will be independently examined before Ministers make a final decision. It makes sense that these applications should be considered jointly, in order to ensure strategic consideration of the benefits and impacts.”

Although the details are still to be confirmed, it is expected that the pre-inquiry meeting will take place in spring 2013, with the full inquiry to commence later in the year.

There are a further four section 36 applications for onshore windfarms on which Powys County Council is due to respond to the Department of Energy and Climate Change by the end of September 2012. The secretary of state will give consideration to the arrangements for any additional public inquiries, including whether to tie them into the Llanbadarn Fynydd and Carnedd Wen inquiry, after Powys County Council has responded to the remaining applications.

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