Planning law stops solar power plant seeing light of day

COMMERCE and Employment could have a solar power plant up and running in three months if it were not for planning laws, its minister has said.

Deputy Kevin Stewart, pictured, explained his department was currently working with Environment to advise it of the strategic opportunities that creating a photovoltaic panel site would have.

He had announced previously at an Institute of Directors presentation that the department had already identified a disused vinery site that could be used as a test bed solar power plant, but this change was blocked by planning laws.

'It's bonkers that we cannot set up a pilot project that will give a 6-7% return on capital employed because we cannot do it under the laws,' he said at the time.