US town rejects solar farm, says it will absorb sunlight, kill plants

A US town has rejected the installation of solar panels following fears among locals that it may absorb all the energy from the sun thereby killing the plants in the area, according to reports.

The Independent reported on Sunday that residents of Woodland, North Carolina, voted no for a proposal to allow Strata Solar Company ( http://www.stratasolar.com/) to build a solar farm off a highway bordering the town.

During the council meeting, Jane Mann, a retired science teacher, said that she was concerned the panels would prevent plants in the area from photosynthesising, preventing their growth, according to the Independent. She also questioned the high number of cancer deaths in the area, saying no one could tell her solar panels didn't cause cancer, the paper added.

Councilman Cecil Harkey voted against the motion following public comments against the setting up of solar farm, according to the Roanoke-Chowan News Herald, a local newspaper.

According to the local news report, representatives from Strata Solar Company told the council meeting that there are no negative impacts in building a solar farm.

"The panels don't draw additional sunlight," Brent Niemann, a company representative told the concerned citizens. "There are no toxic materials on site. This is a tried and true technology."

But Woodland locals and legislators were not convinced with the explanations. Finally, when the mayor called for a vote, which was 3-1 against the setting up of solar panels, the proposal was rejected.