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1450-acre Heckington solar farm in ‘national interest’ says Ecotricity founder Dale Vince




The man behind a large solar farm which won permission last week says the projects are in the ‘national interest’.

Dale Vince is the owner/founder of Ecotricity, which has developed the 1450-acre Heckington farm in North Kesteven.

Five major solar projects have now been given the green light across the county, leading to claims from campaigners that too much farmland is being taken out of action and will cause food insecurity.

Solar farm stock. Picture: iStock
Solar farm stock. Picture: iStock

The county council’s environment chief Coun Colin Davie (Con) has described them as ‘trashing the countryside’.

Mr Vince, who describes himself as a green energy industrialist, has denied this.

He wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Less than one per cent of land in Lincolnshire is being used for solar farms and even in cases in which it is, landowners are leasing their land to make profit for solar farms – which by the way is also in the national interest in terms of energy security (and the climate).”

He also said the majority of land was being leased from farms rather than bought, meaning it could return to its original use after the solar farm had concluded.

In an interview with the BBC, he also disputed that large donations to the Labour party had helped his plans win approval.

He has given more than £5m, according to the Telegraph, making him one of the party’s biggest donors.

Mr Vince said the gift had nothing to do with the decision by Secretary of State for Energy, Ed Miliband.

“That’s a pretty cynical outlook on life,” he said.

Ecotricity claims the Heckington development will be able to power 200,000 homes.

The West Burton solar project from developer Island Green Power was also granted approval last week.

Coun Davie said last week: “Quite frankly, these decisions are another slap in the face for Lincolnshire, and the government must start considering the cumulative impacts of all these proposals in our county.”



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