Key Facts
• August 31, 2025: Alpinist Ken Noguchi raised concerns on social media.
• Project involves cutting 370,000 trees and installing 470,000 solar panels.
• Total project area: 250 hectares; panel installation area: 146 hectares.
• Construction began May 7, 2025, in Kamogawa City’s mountainous region.
• Developer: AS Kamogawa Solar Power LLC; approved under Forest Act in April 2019.
• Risks highlighted: weakened soil, increased landslide risks, and marine ecosystem damage.
• Comparisons drawn to environmental issues in Kushiro Wetlands, Hokkaido.
• Public reactions: mixed, with calls for alternative solutions and environmental protection.
Summary
The large-scale solar power project in Kamogawa City, Chiba Prefecture, has sparked environmental concerns. Alpinist Ken Noguchi criticized the plan to cut 370,000 trees and install 470,000 solar panels, warning of risks such as soil erosion, landslides, and harm to marine ecosystems. The project, spanning 250 hectares, began in May 2025 and is led by AS Kamogawa Solar Power LLC. Public opinion is divided, with some opposing the environmental impact and others urging for alternative solutions. Noguchi compared the situation to similar issues in Hokkaido’s Kushiro Wetlands, emphasizing the need for sustainable development.
