FUKUSHIMA, Mar 12, 2026 (News On Japan) - More than a decade after the nuclear disaster forced all residents of Futaba in Fukushima Prefecture to evacuate, solar panels are now spreading across the town, creating both opportunities and unease as reconstruction tax incentives attract energy projects to the area.
Futaba was entirely evacuated following the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, and it took 11 years before residents were able to begin returning. Although the town has only just started moving forward with its reconstruction, large solar panel installations have begun appearing in scattered locations across the community.
These solar projects are being promoted partly through tax incentives designed to support reconstruction in areas affected by the disaster. However, the system has also drawn companies seeking to reduce their tax burdens, leading some residents to question whether the policy is truly benefiting the town’s recovery.
Among locals, the sudden spread of solar facilities has created a sense of discomfort. Some residents say the panels, installed on land that once supported homes, farms, or forests, feel out of place in a community still struggling to rebuild.
At the same time, landowners face difficult circumstances. Many properties remain difficult to use due to lingering effects of the disaster, declining populations, and limited economic opportunities. For some residents, leasing land for solar projects has become one of the few viable ways to generate income.
The expansion of solar power in Futaba therefore highlights a complicated reality: while renewable energy projects may contribute to Japan’s energy transition and offer financial lifelines to landowners, they also raise questions about how reconstruction policies are shaping the future of communities still recovering from one of the country’s worst disasters.
Source: TBS
