Overhead power lines chosen for Anglesey nuclear station
- Published
Chris Isaac of NG says no nuclear power station in the world is connected by undersea cables
Controversial overhead power lines across Anglesey are the preferred option for the planned £8bn Wylfa Newydd nuclear station.
But National Grid (NG) has ruled out pylons for an area of outstanding natural beauty with cables set to run underground and under the Menai Strait.
The route will broadly follow the path of existing pylons.
NG said it realised that "many will be disappointed" that cables would not run all the way under the sea.
The £569m project is needed to connect the new nuclear station in the north of Anglesey to the substation in Pentir, Gwynedd.
Underground cables have been estimated to cost around 12 times that of overhead lines,, external while there are also technical issues such as the repairing any faults.
Overcoming obstacles would cost "many hundreds of millions more" than the preferred option - one of three - that NG has chosen.
Farmer Will Edwards from Rhosgoch says the pylons will damage the island's scenery
The whole project is still dependent on Wylfa Newydd near Cemaes Bay going ahead, but NG has to get its own plans ready.
The proposals will go out for further consultation and the construction would take five years and not start before 2020.
Senior project manager Martin Kinsey said it was not a decision taken lightly and it was about balancing the environment and customers' bills.
Natural Resources Wales - which had wanted an undersea cable - said it will work with NG to minimise the environmental impact.
The final details of the exact route is yet to be determined - the blue line is the current pylon route
- Published25 January 2014
- Published21 November 2012
