HOKKAIDO NEWS
Otaru City is opposing a wind power project planned for a state-owned forest that lies on both city ground and neighbouring Yoichi Town.
The wind farm is planned by Sojitz Corporation, a general trading company headquartered in Tokyo, and Otaru City is opposing it out of fear that it will degrade the natural beauty of the landscape and increase the risk of landslides.
Otaru Mayor Toshiya Sako has announced his intention to submit, this month, a written brief outlining Otaru City’s opposition to Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki.
Otaru’s opposition is somewhat surprising considering the city, along with Mayor Sato, have stated a goal of reaching carbon neutrality during 2050, in line with Tokyo’s national goal.
There are also several wind farms already online or in development in Otaru, including Ishikari Bay offshore wind farm, currently under construction through a joint venture of Nippon Steel and Shimizu Corporation.
This rapid spread of wind farms in Otaru is part of a larger trend in Hokkaido to exploit wind energy in and around the Sea of Japan.
Sojitz Corporation’s intended Otaru City wind farm is near Mt. Shioya-maruyama, a popular hiking area.
If completed, it will have up to 26 wind turbines.
Source
Hokkaido Shimbun – 1 June 2023
Shimizu Corporation – 9 September 2022
Article thumbnail image of Shimamaki, Hokkaido wind farm DrTerraKhan