Local perspectives of national energy projects: Reconstructing the impact of post war nuclear power stations in north Wales from archival sources

While national energy infrastructure projects possess significant reach and scale in supply terms, they are focused on a smaller number of power generation sites and have a significant impact on those specific localities. Britain's post war nuclear power programme was no different. Emblematic of government confidence and optimism in technological progress, they also shaped community identities, languages, and attitudes to modernity, and affected the lives, routines, and prospects of residents. This article outlines available historical sources linked to nuclear power station construction and its wider effect on north Wales, demonstrating the economic, social, cultural, and political impact of the industry on a variety of local groupings and communities.