LOYALTY CODE:
The paper code cannot be redeemed when browsing in private/incognito mode. Please go to a normal browser window and enter the code there
Prime agricultural land should not be used for solar farms and, instead, solar panels should be put on marginal land or bog land, Fine Gael councillor John Dolan believes.
The Westmeath councillor and dairy farmer said he knows of a number of areas where “good productive agricultural land is being used for solar panels”.
“I’ve nothing against solar, but I think there is something wrong about using fertile productive land for solar farms,” he told the Irish Farmers Journal.
“I think there is plenty of marginal land and bogs that are not going to be used again, which would be ideal for solar.”
He said that at a time when food security is primary in everyone’s mind, it is his view that fertile land should be protected.
Planning
“I brought it up at local authority level. I think when a planning application goes in for a solar farm, there is more than just production of electricity that should be taken into account.
“I think the potential production of food from that land should be considered when they are assessing the application.
“I’m not saying you can’t have solar panels on land, but I think part of the decision of granting permission we should be taking into account [is] the quality of that land.
“There are a lot of things involved in an application, but I think this is an important one. As a farmer, I hate to see prime farmland go out of production like that.
“I’m not against solar panels, but there is plenty marginal land and bog land suitable for it.”
Planning refused for 600ac solar farm in east Galway
New CAP proposals would allow farm income supports to be set as low as €90/ha
Dairy farmer incomes average €109,000 since 2020
Farmers fence and wall damaged following works by Mayo County Council
Many herds gone untested for TB don’t have any cattle – Minister
If you would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525.
If you would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525.
If you would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525.
We have sent an email to your address. Please click on the link in this email to reset your password. If you can’t find it in your inbox, please check your spam folder. If you can’t find the email, please call us on 01-4199525.
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
SHARING OPTIONS
