Representation by Alison Gooch
- Date submitted
- 4 May 2024
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I strongly object to the development of the Byers Gill solar factory on the grounds that Solar energy is NOT the answer to the climate crisis. The developer in a rush to cash in emphasizes the purported environmental benefits of its proposal in their application, highlighting its efforts to combat climate change throughout the development process. However, while RWE justifies its stance in Document 6.2.3 of the Environmental Statement Chapter 3, section 3.3.3, citing the designation of revised energy NPS on January 17, 2024, it is crucial to scrutinize the true cost of the Byers Gill development against our collective environmental responsibilities to future generations. While RWE positions its solar project as a solution to climate change, it seems to prioritize this goal over the urgent need to address biodiversity loss and to protect prime agricultural land. Yet, these issues are inherently intertwined, as the health of ecosystems directly impacts climate stability, and vice versa. By promoting this project as a climate change mitigation effort while potentially disregarding ecosystem integrity, RWE's approach appears contradictory and shortsighted. This undermines the concept of a 'just transition' to renewables. Furthermore, the proposed use of farmland for solar development neglects its primary purpose as a source of food energy and disrupts agricultural sustainability. Farmland in and of itself acts to mitigate climate change through the absorption of tones of CO2 and the maintenance of ecosystems on hedging and fields boundaries. Planning policies should unequivocally prioritize the conservation and enhancement of natural environments while respecting ecological integrity and agricultural sustainability. Clarity in solar development guidance is imperative to prevent companies like RWE from advancing unsuitable projects that mar rural landscapes and disrupt communities. Instead, the focus should shift towards preserving farmland and identifying alternative sites that minimize ecological harm, aligning with the National Planning Policy Framework's core principles.