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The Japanese government will strengthen safeguards to protect ecosystems and landscapes from the adverse impact of large-scale solar farms, officials said.
The government is expected to revise the electricity business act in 2026 at the earliest, requiring a third-party organization to corroborate the safety of building such facilities.
The move comes after the construction of mega solar facilities drew backlash near the Kushiro Wetlands in Hokkaido and other areas, stirring concerns that such developments could damage wildlife habitats.
Officials including those from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and the Environment Ministry submitted a proposal to a panel meeting of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Monday.
The government will decide whether to also make revisions to the endangered species conservation act by next summer, they said.
Among the worries raised regarding the construction of large solar power facilities were their impact on local wildlife and endangered species, risks stemming from forestland development and the creation of embankments, as well as their effects on the landscape.
Solar farm safety checks have largely been delegated to their operators. The envisaged governmental independent party will also review plans for renewable power generation facilities with a capacity exceeding 10 kilowatts, according to the proposal.
Fukui is a coastal prefecture easily accessible from Tokyo; away from crowds and tourists, but with plenty to do, see and taste.
Documented ownership of some of these solar plants is very hard to find, along with less than transparent approval processes, leaving the locals wondering who owns them and who approved them. Many of them are traceable back to China, the manufacturer of the panels,
A mega-plant being completed in Kamogawa, Chiba, is a good example of this; with locals protesting and holding rallies against it, as they tried to find out who the actual owner was, and how it got approved.
Too late for my neighbourhood an urban forested area with parks and playgrounds and walks.
Land owner decided a few years back to cut down a swathe of trees on his property and set up quite a few rows of solar panels. The 2 houses opposite not only lost their views but had an electrical monstrosity in place.
And to add salt to the wounds, the panel owner, when finding that too much shade was being created by the adjoining forest proceeded to cut down the equivalent size of forested land to let the sun shine on his panels.
No city by-laws to stop him.
It’s my land I can do whatever I want.
Insanity.
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