Mt. Fuji's Hometown Welcomes PV and Wind Power Facilities but Within Limits to Preserve Heritage Views

Copyright Fujinomiya

Fujinomiya City, Shizuoka Prefecture, announced on September 5, 2012, that it had delineated the areas where the installation of large-scale power generation facilities of photovoltaic (PV) systems and wind power systems is limited, in order to preserve views of Mt. Fuji. The city owns six potential World Cultural Heritage sites under Mt. Fuji's registration drive, and while it intends to fulfill its obligation to future generations of preserving the scenery and views of the world-famous mountain, worthy of being a designated world heritage, it also wants to promote renewable energy.

Targeted are PV facilities built on the ground with solar cell modules larger than 1,000 square meters in size (excluding rooftop systems), and wind power generators larger than 10 meters in height. As shown on a map issued by the city, the areas where these large systems are not permitted are in the north, southwest, and southeast parts of the city, an area covering over two-thirds of the entire city.

The areas outside the restricted area will still be required to give consideration to viewscapes when constructing large-scale PV and wind power facilities, and follow procedures in accordance within certain categories of target land and size of facilities.