Farmers' Union: 'Distance Regulations for Solar and Wind Power Facilities Near Homes Must Not Be Eased'

Farmers' organizations are strongly opposing a proposed revision to the law governing renewable energy development, specifically targeting the relaxation of regulations on the distance between residential areas and new solar and wind power facilities. The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment's proposed amendment, which sets minimum distances for such installations, has been met with fierce criticism from agricultural communities.

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The minimum distance standard between households and power generation facilities included in this amendment is no different from the opinions of the business operators. Farmers will lose their health, suffer property damage, and the living environment of agricultural and rural areas will be destroyed due to the reckless development of renewable energy.

The National Farmers Federation (Jeonnong) held a press conference, calling the proposed minimum distances a "poisonous clause." The revision suggests solar facilities must be at least 200 meters from five or more households, and wind turbines at least 1 kilometer from five or more households. Jeonnong argues these distances are insufficient and infringe upon farmers' health and property rights. They are demanding the immediate repeal of these provisions.

As an alternative, Jeonnong proposes that solar facility distances should adhere to local government ordinances, while wind turbines should be at least 2 kilometers away, also based on local regulations. They also insist that the minimum household threshold be removed, applying the distance requirement to all individual residences, regardless of the number of households nearby. Further demands include stricter distance requirements for wind turbines on private farmland and in mountainous rural areas, setting height standards based on blade length, and ensuring local governments can enact stricter rules than the national standard.

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The distance standard between households and power generation facilities has varied by local government, so there was a need for standardization. I think the standard in this revised enforcement decree is at a level that farmers can somewhat accept. If the standard is raised further than this, there will be almost no place to install renewable energy facilities nationwide. Of course, the specific distance for each region should be determined based on this standard, considering the local situation.

Energy experts, however, offer a different perspective. While acknowledging the need to consider local residents, they warn that overly stringent distance requirements could hinder the expansion of renewable energy. Lee Heon-seok, a policy committee member at Energy Justice Action, suggested that the proposed distances are a reasonable starting point, but emphasized that specific local conditions must be considered. The Ministry stated that over 700 comments have been submitted during the public review period, and all opinions from residents, businesses, and local governments will be thoroughly reviewed before a final decision is made.

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More than 700 comments have been submitted during this legislative preview period, which is significantly more than usual. After the deadline on the 8th, we will review all opinions from residents, businesses, and local governments to determine the final course of action.