A decision on what is expected to be the first of a fleet of new UK nuclear power plants is due by 19 March. It was examined by the Planning Inspectorate last year and a recommendation submitted to the department last month.
Before the Hinkley Point C decision, Barker is scheduled to determine two windfarms: a large onshore proposal near Swansea and an extension to the offshore Kentish Flats scheme.
The news that Barker has been delegated what are technically decisions for energy secretary Ed Davey was revealed by Giles Scott, head of national infrastructure consents at Decc, at a London conference on Tuesday.
He reported that Decc had nearly cleared its backlog of energy schemes considered under the old Section 36 consents regime. Nine remain: two combined cycle gas turbine plants, a waste-to-energy scheme and a clutch of windfarms in mid-Wales. The latter is the subject of a linked public inquiry scheduled for later this year.