Green Gen Cymru should be stripped of its licence to operate say MPs

Two Liberal Democrat MPs have called for a renewable energy firm set to run pylons across Mid Wales and North Shropshire to be stripped of its licence to operate.

Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe David Chadwick and Liberal Democrat MP for North Shropshire Helen Morgan, said Green GEN Cymru's Independent Distribution Network Operator (IDNO) licence should be revoked, citing a pattern of behaviour that she says demonstrates the company is no longer a “fit and proper” licence holder.

The MPs have written to energy regulator OFGEM and the intervention follows a string of reports of surveyors for the company carrying out work on private land without giving notice.

David Chadwick MP, said the company had shown a “shocking disregard” for the rights of local people.

Last month, Shropshire Council was also made aware that the firm had installed traffic counting equipment without seeking the appropriate licenses at several sites in the north of the county.

Green Gen Cymru has received criticism for its lack of engagement with the public and a recent High Court ruling upheld complaints that the firm was sending surveyors on to people’s land in Wales without proper notice.

The judgment also criticised the company's approach to biosecurity concerns on farms and found that developers must properly consider landowners' circumstances before exercising survey access powers.

David Chadwick has previously raised his concerns about the company and its associated projects in Parliament on many occasions. 

Commenting, Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe David Chadwick said:

“The behaviour of Green Gen Cymru has shown a shocking disregard for the rights of local people.

“After being criticised by the High Court for the way it accessed private land, you would expect the company to change its ways. Instead, we continue to see reports of unannounced visits to homes and farms and infrastructure being installed without the necessary permissions.

“We believe this demonstrates a pattern of behaviour that is completely unacceptable for a company entrusted with an Ofgem licence. The High Court's criticism, coupled with further reports of unacceptable conduct, raises serious questions about whether Green Gen Cymru remains a fit and proper company to hold an IDNO licence. We are calling on Ofgem to take these concerns seriously and revoke Green Gen Cymru's licence.”

Helen Morgan, Liberal Democrat MP for North Shropshire, said:

“The recent High Court judgment raised serious questions about the way Green GEN Cymru has conducted itself when dealing with landowners and rural communities.

“I was deeply concerned to learn that, despite those findings, local residents continue to report behaviour which appears to show a disregard for proper process, communication and the concerns of farming families.

“North Shropshire's farmers are already facing significant challenges. The last thing they need is uncertainty about who may be entering their land, particularly when biosecurity remains such an important issue.

“That is why I have written to OFGEM urging it to consider whether Green GEN Cymru remains a fit and proper organisation to hold an IDNO licence.”
ENDS