The British government under new Prime Minister Liz Truss wants to protect a larger portion of English farmland from the development of large solar panel fields and wind farms. Environment Secretary Ranil Jayawardena has instructed his officials to broaden the definition of valuable agricultural land, the newspaper The Guardian reported.
Farmland in England is divided into five categories. Until now, certain natural agricultural areas have been reserved exclusively for farming use. This is intended to be expanded. This would ban solar parks on 58 percent of farmland in England.
Prime Minister Truss has repeatedly criticized the sight of solar panels on farmland. She also says that solar fields and wind farms hinder the expansion of Britain’s own food self-sufficiency.
At the annual meeting of her Conservative Party, she placed climate activists on the list of “anti-growth coalition.” Jayawardena’s plans have faced much criticism, from both some government departments and environmental organizations.
The industry organization Solar Energy UK said that solar energy is not a threat but a salvation, especially given the current international energy crisis. “It will lower energy bills, secure energy supply, stimulate growth, and support the rural economy,” it was stated. The expansion of renewable energy is inevitable given the sharply rising costs of natural gas.