War of words over renewable energy opportunities in Cornwall

The Conservative group has accused the Lib Dems of 'betrayal', stating that the council's administration 'promised Cornish farmers they would protect this estate; instead, they are quietly paving the way to sell it out from under them, field by field, to the highest bidder'. A cabinet member has denied that is the case and has accused the Tories of 'deliberate scaremongering' and 'a lazy party political stunt'. Cornwall Council is working with the South West Net Zero Hub to assess renewable energy opportunities across its estate. This includes schools, car parks, offices, commercial buildings, depots and the Council Farms estate. The council says the review forms part of its commitment to increase renewable energy generation across its estate by an additional 15MW by 2030, helping to improve energy security, reduce energy costs and support delivery of the council's Climate and Energy Plan. As part of the review, the South West Net Zero Hub has secured funding for a study to examine opportunities across the Council Farms estate specifically. The total value of the SWNZHs commission is £140,000. The work is focused on understanding what opportunities may exist, what constraints apply and where projects may be viable. 'It is not a commitment to any specific technology, site or development,' the council has stated. Cornwall's Conservatives issued a press release on Monday (September 7), which said: 'Cornwall Council has begun procuring specialist consultancy work to identify and prioritise solar energy sites across its entire county farms estate, despite previously suggesting only a small portion would be used for alternative energy. 'A market engagement notice published this month describes the Cornwall element as assessing renewable energy opportunities across the County Farms estate, covering technical, planning, environmental, grid and commercial appraisal. Delivery is expected to run from the end of November 2026 to the end of March 2027.' Cllr Martyn Alvey, deputy leader of the Conservative Group at Cornwall Council, said: 'This is a betrayal, plain and simple. The Liberal Democrats promised Cornish farmers they would protect this estate; instead, they are quietly paving the way to sell it out from under them, field by field, to the highest bidder. Tenants without even a written agreement are now watching their land assessed for solar panels rather than their futures. This administration has shown its true colours and Cornwall's farmers will not forget it.' The renewable energy review follows a six-month inquiry by the council's sustainable growth and place scrutiny committee, which reported in June after hearing evidence from the Tenant Farmers Association, the National Farmers Union and the Country Land and Business Association. 'The inquiry concluded that the number of dairy holdings on the estate must be reduced and that solar development should be treated as a priority use for land currently farmed by tenants. It also found that many tenants have no written tenancy agreement in place and raised the possibility of releasing farmland to support up to 1,200 new homes,' added Cornwall's Conservatives. James Wright, farmer and director of policy at the Conservative Rural Forum, said: 'This tender shows where Liberal Democrat priorities lie. You do not commission work to identify solar sites across land you intend to keep for the next generation of farmers. They say one thing in public and do another in private.' The cabinet member responsible for the farms estate – an Independent councillor, not a Lib Dem – has hit back at the Tories. Cllr Tim Dwelly told us: 'I can categorically say there is absolutely no proposal to fundamentally change the way we manage the farms estate. 'We have looked at renewable energy opportunities on parts of council land for years. This study is not a commitment to any particular technology, site or development. It will establish what opportunities actually exist, including ways renewable energy could help our tenant farmers cut their own energy costs and become more energy independent – strengthening the long-term future of their farming activity. 'We will work with our farmers as this develops. The whole point is to understand where renewable energy can complement productive farming, not replace it. 'The suggestion that we are somehow preparing to replace farms with solar panels simply isn't true. This statement by the Conservatives is deliberate scaremongering and sounds like a lazy party political stunt. Farmers will not thank them for spreading scare stories with no basis in reality. Why didn't the Conservatives ask for the facts first?' A statement from council officers said it was 'worth noting that the statement issued by the Conservative Group contains an inaccuracy. The review is considering all renewable energy opportunities, including wind and solar. It is also examining opportunities for on-farm renewable energy generation that could help tenant farmers reduce energy costs, improve energy resilience and support the long-term sustainability of farm businesses'. Regarding the review, the council noted: 'More broadly, the work aligns with the Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP), which seeks to deliver a more affordable, secure and resilient local energy system while retaining the benefits of the energy transition within Cornwall. 'The Council Farms estate was specifically identified as an area with potential to support farm decarbonisation and explore opportunities for more energy-independent farming.' The deputy leader of the Conservative Party was the portfolio holder for the LAEP when it was adopted.