Japan Ruling Party Proposes Cutting Subsidies for Solar Projects

Japan’s ruling party has proposed cutting government subsidies for large-scale solar projects, as it pushes to reduce emphasis on renewables in the nation’s energy strategy.

The proposal comes as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi — who is also head of the Liberal Democratic Party — prioritizes energy security and self-sufficiency, especially as a significant chunk of Japan’s solar imports come from China, with whom relations are currently strained. Takaichi has stated in the past her opposition to any policy that “covers our beautiful land with foreign-made solar panels.”