The Farmer’s Shock as a Solar Park Is Erected Next to His Farm: “Unbelievable That This Is Allowed to Happen”

Plans for a large solar park outside Strömsnäsbruk in Småland have sparked strong criticism from local residents. Farmer Johnny Olofsson states that he only learned about the project after reading about it in a newspaper article—despite the facility being planned directly adjacent to land he has farmed for a long time.

The proposed solar park is planned for Södra Fägerhult in Markaryd municipality and will cover around nine hectares of land consisting of both arable land and forest. The land is owned by persons residing elsewhere, and the project is run by the company Svea Solar.

Johnny Olofsson runs agriculture and forestry on the family farm in the area and has for many years leased parts of the affected farmland for forage cultivation. The lease has been in the family since the late 1960s and he took it over himself in the 1980s.

“That’s when I realized the solar park will be placed right outside my farm, on the land where I grow forage. I knew nothing—it’s unbelievable that things can happen like this,” Johnny Olofsson told Laholms Tidning.

Olofsson mainly criticizes how the process has been handled and believes that neighbors should have been informed much earlier. According to him, the establishment risks altering the entire landscape of the area as open green fields are replaced by large areas of solar panels.

“What strikes me the most is how it’s allowed to make such a major change without those of us who will be the closest neighbors to the solar park being informed at all,” he told Laholms Tidning.

Johnny Olofsson describes the plans as a dramatic change to the landscape, where large areas of farmland and forest are replaced by solar panels. He also finds it tragic that local residents found out about the project through a newspaper article rather than being informed by those responsible.

The farmer is also critical of using agricultural land for major energy projects. He himself has previously received offers to let his own land for solar installations but has consistently declined, as he believes that farmland should be used for food production.

The Municipality Appeals

Markaryd municipality has also reacted to the plans and has appealed the county administrative board’s decision to allow the establishment. The municipality argues that current rules create legal uncertainty since consultations in so-called 12:6 cases primarily take place between the county board and the landowner, without clear involvement of local residents or the municipality.

The municipality has also questioned that the decision was made after a relatively short processing period and wants clearer legislation and legal practice regarding large solar parks on agricultural land.

Among residents, there is also concern that the character of the area will change and that property values could be negatively affected if the project goes ahead.

Johnny Olofsson welcomes Markaryd municipality’s decision to oppose the plans. He believes that a large solar park risks changing the character of the area, impacting neighbors’ views, and in the long run could lower the attractiveness and value of properties in the village. At the same time, he feels that residents have had little opportunity to influence the process or express their opinions.