Overview
- An official Kushiro City survey shows roughly 90% of electricity from commercial solar facilities is attributable to companies based outside the municipality.
- Local opposition around Kushiro Marsh has intensified over environmental and landscape concerns, fueling demands for mechanisms that channel profits to host communities.
- In Sendai’s Akiu district, a touted 400 MW mega-solar never filed an environmental assessment, the site lies in a zone where large forest development is not permitted, and the city says it cannot reach the developer.
- The national government in December approved a roughly 20-item package to strengthen oversight of large solar projects and is considering ending above-market purchase support for new projects from fiscal 2027.
- Environmental and safety risks cited in recent cases include habitat impacts such as threats to red-crowned cranes, soil erosion and landslide concerns, and legal challenges that have stalled or interrupted work.