One of UK’s biggest solar farms to be built near Gloucester
JBM Solar Projects 21 Ltd has been given approval to create a 49,9-megawatt solar farm with battery storage on land near Highleadon, between Newent and Gloucester
The new solar farm will cover more than 286 acres of agricultural land and be in use for 40 years.
Forest of Dean District Council’s development management committee approved the proposals on Tuesday.
Officers had recommended approving the proposal as on balance, they said the solar farms’ benefits would “significantly and demonstrably” outweigh any harms.
District councillors also felt this planning application was the least contentious of the sites which had been proposed between Newent and Highnam.
Taynton Parish Council objected saying there should be greater separation of the panels from Kents Green at the western end of the development.
They said glint and glare may be an issue for residents, particularly in Kents Green, and noise from inverter cabin cooling fans could cause issue.
However, consultants working on the scheme say the solar farm supports the UK Government’s intention to move to a low carbon economy.
The committee voted to approve the proposals by seven votes to one, with one abstention.
See more here bbc.co.uk
Header image: JBM Solar Projects 21 Ltd / Pegasus / FoDDC
Editor’s note: all objections were overruled in the name of ‘saving the planet’, and there will be 286 fewer acres of land available for food production
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VOWG
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Good grief, more pollution and billions of dollars wasted.
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Howdy
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“the solar farm supports the UK Government’s intention to move to a low carbon economy.”
Even better, it bolsters certain individuals bank accounts eh.
“be in use for 40 years”
Of course it will. So it requires at least one complete panel swap during it’s life. How is that ‘low carbon’?
“noise from inverter cabin cooling fans could cause issue.”
You see, this is where all the nonsense and virtue is demonstrated. The saving won’t extend to harnessing this waste heat or putting it to work will it?
All that ‘carbon’ BS to make and erect the thing, the infrastructure, ongoing maintenance. Then, the dismantling and cable recovery after the project is finished, and making good. though if it’s in the ground, just leave it eh? All the better to make a nice “mad max” trophy display. That is the intention after all. Plus the icing on the cake, ready made bonfires in the form of battery houses. How delightfull.
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