'Industrial scale' solar farms attacked by Greens
“Industrial scale” solar farms planned by foreign-owned firms have been attacked by the leader of the Green Party on a county council.
Catherine Rowett, from Norfolk County Council, said overseas investors were aiming to make huge profits and called for solar projects to be locally owned.
Some of the UK’s largest solar sites are planned for Norfolk, including the East Pye development — which would cover the equivalent of about 1,500 football pitches.
Island Green Power (IGP), which is behind the East Pye project in South Norfolk, said that the scheme would help meet the UK government’s “need for secure affordable and low carbon energy” .
NEIL HALL/EPA-EFE/REX/ShutterstockRowett has been speaking to BBC Norfolk as part of a series of interviews with local party leaders ahead of next month’s local elections.
With 84 seats up for grabs, the Greens currently have four councillors.
While the party is traditionally in favour of renewables, she said she was opposed to “industrial scale energy infrastructure schemes” such as the East Pye development at a series of sites in and around Long Stratton, which covers 2,700 acres (1,090 hectares).