PLANS to bring a £25 million wind farm to the scenic mountains between Blaina and Blaenavon have already split opinions in local communities.
It was announced last week that Welsh-based company Pennant Wind Energy Ventures Limited plans to erect between 20 and 30 turbines, around 100 metres high, on Mynydd James, Cefn Coch, and Coity.
The company believes the area is ideally suited for energy production because of its wind resources, and as it's so large it can easily accommodate the proposed number of turbines.
The firm also says it will provide up to £4 million for community schemes in Blaenau Gwent, which could become £8 million if they are able to identify suitable projects that could qualify for match funding from public bodies.
Pennant says the money could boost projects such as:
* New nature reserves and bird-watching facilities.
* A green energy education centre for local schools.
* Improved footpaths, walkways and cycle routes.
* New works of public art.
* A weather station.
A wind-measuring device is now being placed on the mountain for a year to establish whether the site is suitable.
Gilfach Goch, in the Rhondda Valley, has had 20 turbines on its mountainside for the last ten years.
The Argus asked Rhondda Cynon Taff councillor, Aurfron Roberts, how having a wind farm on their doorstep had affected local communities - and he believes Gwent could score from the scheme.
"I don't see any problem with the wind farms as long as they are controlled and there are not millions of them," he said.
"It hasn't made that much of an impact on the mountain and it has become an accepted part of the community.
"I think we have to look at different sources of energy - especially with the number of nuclear energy plants that are closing down now.
"I think it adds something to the community and it is a bit of forward planning and thinking.
"The mountains around Gilfach Goch are in a beautiful area and the wind farms have been accepted as needed for the future as much as mines.
"We had a number of gains from developers, and we had various meetings with them and they bent over backwards for us."
Money from the developers financed the renovation of the community recreation centre and the establishment of mini-rugby and football teams.
Councillor Roberts added: "I don't think we would have any more on the mountain, though, and I think there would be opposition from the community if that was proposed."
The mood is more divided in Gwent.
When we asked the people of Blaina what they thought of the proposals, they were almost unanimous in their support of the scheme.
They cited a number of reasons for their support.
Top of the list was the tempting promise of cash for projects to help regenerate a community that has been reeling from years of under-investment which has left Blaina and surrounding areas one of the most deprived in Wales.
They were optimistic that the money could help regenerate the town and offer its young people much-needed facilities.
Others welcomed an environmentally safe form of energy as an alternative to the post-Chernobyl dangers of the now unfashionable nuclear power.
There were some objections, however, that the wind farms were a blot on the landscape.
Malcolm Daniels, 65, from Caddicks Row, said: "I think they are great big ugly things and I would consider protesting against them."
He felt the money being put on the table was nothing more than "a sweetener".
Alun Lewis, secretary of the Cwmcelyn Tenants' and Residents' Association, agreed.
"It would spoil a lovely part of the world."
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