Both projects are now almost certain to be considered by a planning inquiry. The sites for the proposals are in part of mid-Wales designated for wind-farm development under current Welsh Government planning policy.
The planning authority gave the thumbs-down to Nuon’s 17-turbine scheme with a capacity of around 51 megawatts planned for a site at Llanbadarn Fynnydd, near Newtown and RWE Npower renewable’s much larger proposal, a 50-turbine development with a capacity of up to 150 MW, earmarked for Carnedd Wen, Llanbrynmair.
Officers had recommended objecting to both schemes: the Llanbadarn Fynnydd application on highway grounds and the Carnedd Wen application on environment impact and highway grounds.
Members of the council added additional objections including the detrimental effect on tourism and concern over new overhead power lines and the possible need for a sub-station.
Leader of the council, councillor Michael Jones said: “We object to both applications because of their impact on the county’s environment, the impact on the highway infrastructure and because they fail to meet a number of important national and county planning policies.”