Overview

• Japan Ecology announced on September 17 that it has temporarily halted construction to prioritize consultations with municipalities and regulators.
• The Hokkaido government on September 2 recommended stopping part of the work after determining the developer proceeded without required Forest Law permission.
• The project envisions about 6,600 panels on privately owned land near the Environment Ministry’s Kushiro Wetland Wildlife Protection Center.
• The Kushiro City Council on September 17 approved an ordinance requiring permits and prior consultations for business solar projects of 10 kilowatts or more.
• The new rule allows denials for significant impacts on species such as the red-crowned crane, authorizes naming noncompliant firms, takes effect October 1, and applies to projects starting from January.