A new ordinance will stipulate that businesses consult with the town prior to establishing solar panels and will provide guidance for how to explain such installations to residents.
In addition, Kutchan Town will also establish zones where solar panel installations are prohibited.
The new law is meant to preserve the local landscape and as such protects certain forests, agricultural lands, and water resource conservation areas.
The legislation will also apply to other renewable energy installations, like wind and geothermal, but considering the energy landscape of the Niseko area its greatest impact will be on solar power generation.
Since the introduction of a generous feed-in tariff for renewable energy in 2012 that guaranteed certain prices for the energy, Japan has seen a sharp increase in large and small solar power installations.
But Prime Minister Takaichi has expressed skepticism about large-scale solar projects, citing their impact on scenery and noting that most of the panels are purchased from China.
The national government is now considering ending public support for solar installations at the beginning of fiscal year 2027.
Kutchan Town’s new regulations are expected to begin in April.
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