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Banning solar plants on farmland in England would be a grave error

The construction of solar plants on farmland in England has come under attack, but there are three reasons why they shouldn't be banned, says Michael Le Page

By Michael Le Page

2 November 2022

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Simone Rotella

ARE fields full of solar panels a blight on England’s green and pleasant land? Some figures at the top of the UK government certainly think so.

“I think one of the most depressing sights when you’re driving through England is seeing fields that should be full of crops or livestock full of solar panels,” said Liz Truss, then UK prime minister, in August. “Agricultural lands… should be used for food production.”

This is an issue in many other countries too. China, for instance, is reportedly considering a ban on solar on farmland and in forests.

In England, existing rules …

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