Green Party Candidate for Carmarthenshire demands ‘Real cost of Pylons’ within weeks of new Welsh Gov

Real cost of pylons must be released within “weeks” of new Welsh Government, says Green councillor

The Green Party has called for the true cost of overhead pylons versus underground electricity cables to be published within weeks of a new Welsh Government, warning that communities in Carmarthenshire are being divided as the row over grid infrastructure intensifies.

Plans to connect a new generation of onshore wind farms in Mid Wales to the national electricity network have sparked growing debate, as communities face proposals for new overhead lines and associated infrastructure.

Developers are seeking to link wind energy projects in Powys, an area identified for significant renewable expansion, to the wider grid, with parts of the network expected to run through Carmarthenshire. The proposals are likely to involve 132kV overhead lines and new substations, forming part of a wider effort to increase grid capacity to accommodate renewable energy.

The issue has become increasingly contentious, with campaigners raising concerns about the visual impact of pylons and overhead lines, while energy experts warn that delays to grid upgrades could slow the transition away from fossil fuels and prolong exposure to volatile energy prices.

The Green Party councillor for Carmarthenshire has criticised a recent Welsh Government report on the future electricity grid for failing to publish clear comparisons between overhead and underground options.

They argue that communities are being asked to take a position on major infrastructure projects without access to full information on costs, trade-offs, and long-term impacts.

Across Europe, countries such as Germany, Netherlands and Denmark are increasingly using underground cables, particularly at lower voltages, to reduce visual impact and public opposition. In Denmark, new 132–150kV lines are typically undergrounded as standard, while other countries adopt a mixed approach, combining undergrounding with lower-impact overhead solutions such as wooden poles, which can be used for single-circuit 132kV lines in appropriate locations.

Cllr Rob James, Carmarthenshire Green County Councillor and lead Senedd candidate, said: “The Green Party is firmly in favour of expanding renewable energy, but Wales is not learning enough from our European neighbours on how to deliver it in a way that brings communities with us.

“For years, there have been real concerns about the impact of pylons in Carmarthenshire. We support community-owned onshore wind, but it must be local people who benefit from these developments. If we want to increase the share of renewable energy, we have to take people with us.

“The Welsh Government’s recent report on the future of the grid failed to publish the true cost differences between pylons and undergrounding. People are being asked to choose, but without being given the full facts. I have been clear for years that we should have a presumption in favour of undergrounding, alongside better planning and building the capacity we know we’ll need for future projects.”

He added that a lack of transparency risks prolonging disputes and delaying the transition to cheaper renewable energy.

“If elected to the Senedd, we will push to publish the full cost comparisons within weeks, so communities can make informed decisions and we can finally break the logjam. That means undergrounding where possible, using lower-impact solutions like wooden poles where needed, and planning properly so we stop coming back with new disruption every few years.

“Every day we remain reliant on fossil fuels is another day of higher bills, greater dependence on imported energy, and more pollution. The real cost here isn’t just infrastructure, it’s delay. It’s time we got on with the job and worked with communities, not against them.”