Lincolnshire Council Pushes Back Against Proposed Solar Farms
County councillors in Lincolnshire have expressed adamant objections over the possibility of two solar farm projects in the region. The proposed 1000MW of renewable energy projects at Cottam Farm and Heckington Fen Solar Park have drawn heavy criticism due to their potential impact on the environment and local economy.
Implications For Local Economy
Councillor Tom Smith spoke out against the Cottam Farm project, asserting there were no tangible benefits for the local area. Speaking at the planning committee meeting, he stated, "This has been used as one of the sacrificial lambs on the altar of net zero, and the economic and social harm this and other NSIPs (Nationally Significant Infrastructure Proposals) will do locally cannot be understated."
Environmental Concerns
In addition to economic concerns, councillors expressed worries about the environmental implications of the solar farms. Specifically, the impact on farmland, increased traffic, and deficient infrastructure were areas of unease. Councillor Marianne Overton highlighted concerns about the size and impact of solar panels on agricultural land, as it could potentially industrialise and change the landscape's character.
"It seems the world's gone mad. We do want renewable energy, but we've still got huge swathes of industrial buildings with no solar panels on the roof, and then we go and cover our agricultural fields which are still in use, growing food. It just seems bizarre."
Echoing these sentiments, Councillor Paul Skinner stated he was worried that developers were only interested in the land's quality, rather than its productivity.
Response from Developers
The proposed solar farm developers, Island Green Power and Ecotricity, addressed these concerns by emphasising the renewable, affordable, and reliable energy the projects would provide. The project managers also assured the council of minimal impact on agricultural lands and enhanced local biodiversity with the establishment of these farms.
Eve Browning, the project development manager for Island Green Power, pointed out the rising demand for electricity as the country transitions from coal. Laura White, project manager at Ecotricity, stressed the urgent need to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels for the sake of climate action.