US town rejects proposal to build solar farm thinking it will 'suck' all of the sun's energy
A town in North Carolina in the US recently refused the proposal to rezone an area into a solar-powered manufacturing unit from a residential or agricultural land.
The Woodland Town Council decided to reject the proposal to build a solar farm during a recent meeting after the public comment period preceding the rezoning vote by the council. The public showed a complete distrust and fear of the solar panels.
The recommendation about the rezoning of the area was made by the Planning Board. The recommendation allowed the Strata Solar Company to build a solar farm off US highway 258.
The council had already accepted the proposal to build three solar farms earlier. One of the three accepted projects is at the stage of installation of solar panels.
During the recent public comment period, a group of citizens showed their disagreement with the idea to build any more solar farms in the Woodland area. The representative of the group, Jean Barnes , has asked the council to put any more requests for solar farms on a referendum so the citizens can discuss about it and make the decision, reports Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald.
Retired science teacher, Jane Mann, and her husband, Bobby Mann, also showed their disinterest in getting one more solar panel. Concerned about natural vegetation, Jane believes that solar panels steal away sunlight from plants.
Jane further claims to have observed that plants nearby solar panels are brown, indicating a problem with the photosynthesis. Jane also raised her concern about the increasing number of cancer-related deaths in the area, which has no proof of being not related to solar panels.
According to news.com.au, Jane's husband Bobby raised her wife's concerns during the council meeting and was worried over the notion that solar farms would “suck up all the energy from the sun” and businesses would not come to the town.
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