The Green Party in Derbyshire said consent for major schemes was key and that it was important that local people benefitted from developments near them.
Green Party councillor Rachael Hatchett said “It leaves us in a really difficult position… we need alternative sources of energy, we can’t just go on as we are.
“That obviously has to include solar and wind, and to have a blanket ban on that in any part of the county is just ridiculous.”
The National Farmers Union (NFU) said solar projects on lower-quality agricultural land offered a good diversification option for farmers.
Evidence on the ecological impact of solar farms on the land is uncertain, but a recent study by Lancaster University, external suggested the schemes reduced plant growth and negatively affected soil health.
The researchers suggested strategies like raising the height of panels or spreading them out could reduce the effect.
Two-thirds (68%) of the solar panels imported by the UK came from China in 2024, according to HMRC trade data.