Jersey farmers' union backs solar farm plans

The scheme will be sited on farmland near the La Mare Wine Estate

The head of the Jersey Farmers' Union says a planned new solar farm in St. Mary "could be a really good thing".

Jersey Electricity has been given the go-ahead to fill a field with solar panels near the La Mare Wine Estate.

Doug Richardson said: "The agricultural angle of the application is to graze sheep, but of course we have to be mindful not to diminish the agricultural land base too much."

Another solar farm near Sorel has also been given provisional approval.

The application site: Many of those against the planning application argued solar panels should be placed on roofs, rather than in fields

Mr Richardson's comments came as figures from a freedom of information request revealed the percentage of agricultural land in Jersey dropped from 50.4% in 2018 to 39.2% in 2023.

Public comments from the planning application include: "Placing a few sheep on the land... amounts to greenwashing" and "a scandalous use of prime arable farm land".

Many of those against the planning application argued solar panels should be placed on roofs, rather than in fields.

Doug Richardson: Solar farm could be a good thing

Jersey's government does not provide incentives for homeowners to install solar panels.

Environment Minister Steve Luce said subsidies were "something that we may have to visit in the future as many roof areas are a really good opportunity to harness solar energy".