A new solar farm in Cambridgeshire will provide energy for about 16,000 homes, following approval from local authorities to address climate concerns.
Abbotsley: A new solar farm is on the way! It’s set to power around 16,000 homes. The Huntingdonshire District Council just gave it the green light.
This solar farm will be built on farmland between Abbotsley and Little Barford. It’s near the Abbotsley Golf and Country Club. The plan is to keep it running for 40 years. After that, they’ll remove the panels and return the land to farming.
During a recent meeting, Samuel Dix from Low Carbon spoke about the project. He emphasized the need for clean energy in the area. He mentioned that this solar farm could really help with that.
Mr. Dix pointed out that the energy sector needs to decarbonize. He reminded everyone that the council recognized a climate crisis earlier this year. He believes new renewable projects are essential to tackle this issue.
He also mentioned that the land isn’t crucial for farming right now. So, this solar farm could actually help the local farming business earn some income over the next four decades.
Some council members had mixed feelings. Councillor Douglas Dew was worried about losing farmland permanently. But he did support the temporary 40-year plan, saying it could benefit the land in the long run.
Another councillor, Kevin Gulson, agreed that 40 years is a long time. But he also thought it might give the land a chance to rest and recover.
