Eleven years after Northern Rivers locals successfully stopped the Metgasco gas project at Bentley, a major new energy development has been approved for the Richmond Valley -only this time, it’s renewable.

The NSW Government has given the green light to the Summerville Solar Farm, a large-scale project that will feature 215,000 solar panels across a 500-acre site near Myrtle Creek, 25 kilometres south of Casino.

According to developer ESCO Pacific, when operating at full capacity, the panels will generate electricity to power 36,000 homes -enough to supply every household in both Richmond Valley and Ballina Shires.

The project will also include one of Australia’s largest batteries. Slightly larger than Victoria’s “Big Battery,” it is reportedly capable of powering one million homes for 30 minutes.

The battery facility will cover 1.9 hectares -roughly the size of five football fields -and will be surrounded by a 10-metre-wide fire buffer.

Supporting documents state that 11 homes are located within one kilometre of the development. However, nearby residents may take some comfort in knowing that no new powerlines will be required. The facility will connect to the existing Transgrid transmission line running to Lismore.

ESCO Pacific claims the solar panels will have a lifespan of 85 years -more than double that of standard household panels. However, the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) does not detail how the panels will be disposed of or how the site will be rehabilitated once it is no longer in use.

A biodiversity assessment found no major ecological impacts, as the chosen site consists mostly of degraded farmland previously cleared for grazing.

NSW Minister for the North Coast, Janelle Saffin, welcomed the approval, calling it a win for the region.

“Renewables are the cheapest form of energy to build,” she said. “Projects like Summerville mean more jobs, cleaner energy, and more reliable power.”

Saffin also confirmed the developer will contribute $3.12 million to Richmond Valley Council to fund local infrastructure and support community groups.

ESCO Pacific, which is Swedish-owned, operates seven other solar farms across Queensland, Victoria, and New South Wales, including sites at Finley and Wyalong.

The project’s approval was announced late Friday by NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully, who confirmed it had been designated a major project by the state government—bypassing the need for local council approval.