299MW wind farm approved for South Wales

LONDON, May 9 (UPI) -- The British government said it gave its consent for the construction of a 76-turbine wind farm near South Wales that could be one of the largest in the region.

British Energy Minister Charles Hendry announced the government granted consent to a proposal by energy company Vattenfall to build its wind farm on shore near South Wales. With close to 300 megawatts of power capacity, it would be one of the largest onshore wind farms in the region.

Hendry said wind energy plays an important role in the regional power sector because it's one of the cheapest forms of renewable energy.

"This project in South Wales will generate vast amounts of home-grown renewable electricity and provide a significant benefits package for the local community," he said in a statement.

Vattenfall has committed to providing an incentive package for the surrounding community worth more than $80 million. More than $4.5 million is designated for habitat management.

The wind farm would provide enough energy to meet the annual demands of more than 200,000 homes. It's expected to take more than two years to complete project construction.