More than 1,000 people have objected to two battery energy storage systems (BESS) planned for the North Yorkshire countryside.
Parish councils and countryside groups have also criticised the proposals at South Kilvington, near Thirsk, and East Rounton, between Northallerton and Yarm.
The 1GW BESS plans have been submitted by green energy company NatPower.
The Bellwood scheme proposed for farmland at South Kilvington has attracted more than 800 objections from the public, along with four comments in support.
Obectors’ concerns include the potential fire risk from the development, as well as the impact on the landscape and the loss of agricultural land.
One local resident said: “There is no benefit to Thirsk or the surrounding area; no local employment, no economic benefits, no environmental improvements.
“The proposal is purely profit-driven of which the local area will see zero.”
Another added: “The installation of large battery storage units will alter the rural landscape, affecting the area’s natural beauty.”
CPRE North and East Yorkshire has also written to the council to object, raising concerns about the impact on the nearby North York Moors National Park.
It said: “It is considered that the industrial-scaled development would be incongruous within the open rural location within the important setting of the national park.”
The environmental group also claimed the applicant had provided insufficient information on its plans and said an environmental impact statement should have been submitted.
The Mowbray BESS scheme at East Rounton has attracted more than 260 objections, as well as a handful of supporting comments.
In its response, Rountons Parish Council urged North Yorkshire Council to reject the scheme.
Its concerns include an increase in traffic and noise during the construction phase, worries about the fire risk and the loss of agricultural land which it calls “short-sighted”.
BESS plants store electricity from the grid at times of lower demand and release it back to the grid when it is needed most.
NatPower says the facilities make an essential contribution to ensuring reliable, secure and affordable electricity for the country.
A spokesperson added: “We are committed to engaging with the local community in the evolution of plans for our Bellmoor and Mowbray energy storage schemes.
“We continue to work with local stakeholders and consultees and are actively adopting their feedback to ensure the proposals are designed to minimise the impact on the surrounding area.”
Members of North Yorkshire Council are expected to debate both applications later this year.
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