Mitsubishi Corp. said this week it will withdraw from plans to build offshore wind farms off the coast of Choshi, Chiba Prefecture, and two other sites, prompting sharp criticism from local officials.
Company president Katsuya Nakanishi met with Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai on Thursday to explain the decision. “We deeply regret betraying the community’s expectations,” Nakanishi said, adding that while Mitsubishi is stepping back from offshore wind, it hopes to continue discussions on regional cooperation.
Governor Kumagai called the withdrawal “deeply regrettable,” noting that both the prefecture and local communities had prepared extensively for the projects. “Frankly, we were strung along,” he told the company, pressing Mitsubishi to present concrete plans for contributing to local development despite abandoning the wind farms.
At a separate press conference, Kumagai urged the government to quickly reopen bidding with “a structure that ensures completion,” stressing both the importance of renewable energy and the economic benefits it would bring to the region
by MagazineKey4532