Montage of how Les Champs Verts in St Mary would look if solar panel development were to go ahead. The montage is by William Layzell, and done accurately to the dimensions and levels that JEC have submitted along with using the Digimap Jersey LIDAR digital terrain maps
The total land area about for which Jersey Electricity has so far received expressions of interest from Jersey landowners for having their land used for solar farms, amounts to 105 vergées.
The information is detailed in a written response to the consultation and feedback relating to its proposals for a solar farm in St Mary, dated January.
It states that less land is being required by the potato industry in Jersey. These expressions of interest were made in January alone, from landowners whose tenancies with the Jersey Royal Company (and subsequently the Albert Bartlett Company) are not being renewed.
The statement continues: ’JE receives a steady stream of enquiries from other land owners, approximately 5 – 35 vergées per month, as their tenants vacate the land.
The small amount of land being taken up by agrivoltaics diversification will not be a loss to the agricultural community or the food security of Jersey.
‘It is becoming evident from the interest that is being shown in JE’s projects by off-Island interests and the wider local agricultural industry that its agrivoltaics projects support a diversification of the Island’s agricultural industry and are a positive catalyst.’
Jersey Electricity has temporarily withdrawn its planning application to put over 9,000 solar panels on eight fields in rural St Mary.
In a statement issued last Thursday by JE, it stated it had taken the decision to withdraw the Planning Application for the proposed solar farm at Champs Verts, Rue de la Hougue Mauger. JE intend to resubmit the Champs Vert Planning Application later this year.
In a statement, JE said it remained committed to providing local, diversified and fairly priced electricity supply for customers.
‘This proposed solar farm at Champs Vert will provide a meaningful contribution to Jersey’s energy sovereignty and help to diversify the Island’s energy supply, in line with several government policies, while also providing the opportunity for the Island’s farming community to develop new, diverse and innovative farming methods.’
Local residents William and Laura Layzell and Brian Mansfield started Save This View, the campaign to protect the St Mary fields. Mr Layzell said: ‘A submission by what is, in effect, the Council of Ministers in a case such as this is unusual but, we hope, effective. It reflects our concern, and that of the many objectors to this plan, that Jersey Electricity is taking the easy option of covering high-grade agricultural fields, rather than targeting brownfield sites.
‘We are asking the simple question: “What price the countryside?”
