MP warns against ‘carpeting’ area with solar farms
An MP who said Norfolk could be “the Texas of green energy” said he was “shocked” at proposals for another large solar farm in his constituency.
Energy firm Aukera has revealed plans for the Tasway Energy Park, near Long Stratton, which it said could provide power for up to 200,000 homes.
“If you carpet the entire southern half of south Norfolk, that’s unfair on residents,” argued Labour’s Ben Goldsborough.
On a website detailing its proposals, Aukera said it “wishes to engage with the community and residents early to begin to enhance opportunities the project could bring”.
Pending planning permission, it hoped to begin building in five years’ time.
With its flat terrain and available land, Norfolk is seen as an ideal place for solar farms and a number of the largest in the UK have been proposed for the county.
The government has said such schemes are necessary to reduce energy bills, cut carbon emissions and provide better energy security.
However, critics have warned against the loss of agricultural land and the impact on the look of the countryside.
Several major energy projects are planned for south Norfolk, including the 2,700 acre East Pye solar farm, another solar site at Gissing and a large battery energy storage site at Rushall.
There are also plans for a 114 mile-long (184km) stretch of pylons which would run through the Long Stratton area between Norwich and Tilbury, Essex.
Goldsborough, who has backed the East Pye development, said news of the 700 MW Tasway project was “shocking”.
He has previously compared the potential benefits of green energy in south Norfolk to the boom Texas underwent after oil was discovered there, but warned too many projects were now being proposed for his constituency:
“I want to see Norfolk being at the forefront of offshore wind, onshore wind in some areas, and solar… but that needs to be spread out across the whole county, and that, as it stands, isn’t happening.”
The MP said he only found out about Tasway when a resident contacted him, but he would be meeting with the company.
On its website Aukera, which has been asked for further comment, said no final design had been confirmed.
But it said its “proposal includes solar panels across parts of the site, with a battery energy storage system to store and release electricity when it’s most needed”.
The government, which wants 95% of energy generated in the UK by 2030 to be “clean”, will have final say on the project.
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