2023-10-20 10:49:00
The province of Overijssel, where the BBB is the largest with seventeen seats, has an official plan ready to no longer grant the right to exist to new solar panels on farmland.
The core of the provincial idea is: a farmer should farm, not operate a sustainable energy factory. Although this aim was already included in the Overijssel coalition agreement, energy companies, in particular solar energy developers, are surprised. Especially angry.
They are upset that the province quickly drew up its own ‘preparatory decision’ that prohibits solar parks on fields. The umbrella organizations Energie-Nederland, Holland Solar and the Dutch Association for Sustainable Energy express this in a joint ‘letter’.
On your own
According to the energy companies, the province acts too much on its own, without involving municipalities. These municipalities are busy implementing local energy plans. These are intended to increase the share of sustainable energy within your own region, so that the Netherlands can reduce CO2reduces emissions and achieves climate goals.
A cancellation of solar parks on farmland would de facto mean a cancellation of local green energy plans. Because, just like wind turbines, large fields full of solar panels on metal legs can provide a lot of sustainable electricity, the energy sector is convinced.
The BBB coalition (with VVD, GroenLinks, PvdA and SGP) in Overijssel wants to protect farmers once morest green investors who transform a field into a ‘gray desert’. A wrong signal, say solar energy companies. It is also bad news for farmers, if they are no longer allowed to rent or sell their land to solar park builders, they argue.
“Solar energy offers farmers a stable and predictable income stream. This additional source of income creates financial space to innovate and continue farming.” Moreover, it would be good if farmers and other landowners retain a lot of freedom to determine for themselves which activities they want to develop, according to NVDE and Holland Solar.
If Overijssel continues to adhere to the ban, this will pose a problem for municipalities. They will then have to obtain green energy from other sources. Zwolle announced that it cannot do without new solar meadows for sufficient production of clean energy.
Unsightly and industrial
The large solar parks, which are developed with government subsidies, have been controversial ever since they started to grow regarding five years ago. The parks are unsightly and industrial, according to critics, including landscape organizations. They disrupt nature and free passage for (meadow) birds and mammals, nature conservation organizations fear.
Research has also shown that the result of large solar parks is not all doom and gloom for nature. A solar field can also offer peace and quiet, because the plow does not go through it. Various birds and animals experience benefits rather than nuisance.
Minister Jetten (climate, D66) chose the middle path. He wanted to get rid of filling a field with panels, a strategy of profit-oriented (venture) investors. Jetten decided that large solar parks should be allowed to appear. But under certain conditions, yes. As long as local residents can benefit from it and the panels do not disturb nature, preferably even enhance it.
According to researchers, ‘nature-inclusive’ solar parks are sometimes possible by leaving sufficient space open between panels, and installing hedges and flowery edges, plus insect boxes. That would be better for biodiversity than agriculture.
Also read:
Better a sunbathing meadow than a field if it were up to the yellowhammer
Whether you like them or not, sun meadows sometimes have more to offer nature than the fields they usually replace, research by the University of Groningen showed. ‘We see yellowhammers singing on top of the solar panels here to mark their territory.’
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