ST.-EUGENE — The controversial large-scale solar farm proposed on farmland at St. Eugene, east of Ottawa, has been given the go-ahead. At the same time, however, the province is working on plans in the new Green Energy Act to prohibit solar development on prime agricultural land.

The Ontario Municipal Board announced last month that it had come up with a proposal that was acceptable to the township and the solar company, Solaris Energy Partners.

The new plan means that the 175-acre solar farm behind Shawn Wylie’s dairy farm will be scaled back to 145 acres. But the land is class 1 or 2 agricultural land, he said. "There is no need to be on prime farmland."

In a prepared statement, Wylie called the OMB decision a "sad day for Eastern Ontario farmers" as the solar panels will be surrounded by five dairy farms. He argued that area residents agreed to the deal as it was in a high pressure meeting.

"We are still concerned about stray voltage," he said. "We put forward an offer to install voltage monitors and recorders and require semi-annual inspections of the grounding at Solaris’s sit. We saw this as protection for both sides and it was rejected."

On the upside, Wylie noted that voices of the protestors have been heard. While he and other farmers in East Hawkes-bury Township will pay the price, prime farmland will be protected elsewhere in the province.

Trees will be planted and berms will be installed to block the view of the solar panels.