Developers of an extended solar park in the West Wight say they have no links to a Russian oil company.
The Barnfield Solar Farm would be extended by almost 100 acres and created south of Thorley on Wilmingham Lane, with power for almost 10,000 homes.
Following concerns from some residents about the involvement of Vitol, an independent oil trader which had links supplying Russian oil around the world, James Hartley-Bond has confirmed the project would be entirely funded and delivered by Low Carbon, with no other third parties involved.
Explaining the company’s previous partnership, Mr Hartley-Bond said they worked together, among other companies, on one onshore wind project in Ukraine and there was no current or ongoing involvement with Vitol.
There is already the 30-acre Wilmingham Solar Park in the same area, which was commissioned in March 2013 and owned by the same company, Low Carbon, now proposing the larger farm.
The development would be temporary, for a period of 40 years, after which the equipment will be removed.
The final design of the solar farm has yet to be determined but would consist of rows of photovoltaic solar panels at a maximum height of 3m.
Speaking at a consultation meeting on Tuesday, James Hartley-Bond, head of Low Carbon’s solar project development, said they were delighted to be presenting the new proposals and it was great to speak to the local community at the event held in Yarmouth.
Mr Hartley-Bond said they will be looking to submit a planning application in September after looking at all the consultation feedback and information from technical consultants.
Low Carbon hope, if things go to schedule, it would start building the new solar farm next summer.
Feedback on the project can be submitted until 18th August. More information and a webinar can be found on its website at www.barnfieldsolarfarm.co.uk.
Seems the NIMBY lot of been throwing muck around hoping it’ll stick.
As we have hottest day ever after hottest day ever, so many still are sticking their head in the sand about our affect on the climate. Yes, solar farms are not a magic bullet but they are far better than burning oil.
Put it this way, it’s better to have a solar farm than a farm full of new housing. And you can not remove houses 40 years down the line
If we are serious about cheaper energy it should be given the” green” light
Honestly Comrade, it’s not Russian money.lol.
The company is a PLC = Shareholders = investors demand profit.
The “aren’t we green” is rhetoric. What drives them is profit.
I am not saying for one second that profit is wrong, but companies do like to hide the fact that they have ulterior motives for developing and getting fatter.
Why would they even have to mention theres no Russion Money ???
Just vodka and brown envelopes mabe?