A PAPER petition signed by hundreds of Islanders calling for ground-mounted solar developments on agricultural land to be banned in the next Island Plan has been backed with a proposition from a St Brelade politician.
Deputy Montfort Tadier stated that Jersey fields “should be kept for agriculture”, though he noted there could be circumstances in which it might make sense to install solar panels on “some parts”.
His proposition asks States Members to agree that “there should be a prohibition on solar ground mounts on agricultural land, and to request the Environment Minister to include such prohibition in the next Island Plan”.
William Layzell, one of the organisers of a paper petition calling for this – signed by more than 800 Islanders – told the JEP earlier this month that the group did not believe growing the number of solar farms was a “worthwhile scheme for Jersey”.
Mr Layzell contended that the Island already has a “consistent source” of green energy imported via a long-term contract with Électricité de France.
Clarifying his views in the proposition’s accompanying report, Deputy Tadier explained that he supported both the concept and practice of renewable energy, as well as solar panels, but noted that his “starting position” was that “Jersey fields should be kept for agriculture”.
“I am open to the idea that there could well be circumstances in which it might
make sense to allow for some parts of fields to have solar panels on them,” he said.
“I cannot see, however, that this should be in the first instance and certainly not when government is so far behind in leading by example and examining their own property portfolios for the potential for suitable placements.”
Deputy Tadier’s proposition also asks that the Infrastructure and Environment Ministers work to develop a policy framework “to promote the installation of solar panels on all suitable States of Jersey owned buildings”.
“And, I think, there also needs to be wider consideration about energy conservation, which means starting with better insulation, before moving onto considering wider solar panel opportunities for all suitable new builds,” he continued.
A few weeks ago, Jersey Electricity announced that it had decided not to progress plans for a solar farm at Belle Fontaine in St Martin.
But the utility company stated that it “remains fully committed to supporting the Island’s transition to cleaner, sustainable energy”, including “the continued development of rooftop solar and the identification of locations where renewable generation and agricultural activity can successfully coexist”.
