Nakashibetsu Town Solar Power Plant Selected as "Good Echo" - Ministry of the Environment's Excellent Example of Renewable Energy Coexisting with the Community
Looop Inc.'s Nakashibetsu Solar Power Plant has been selected as a "Good Echo" by the Ministry of the Environment. This recognition is for its efforts in power generation utilizing unused land and fostering coexistence with the community through environmental education for local children.
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- 📰 Published: June 12, 2026 at 11:00
- 🔍 Collected: June 12, 2026 at 11:29 (29 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 12, 2026 at 16:52 (5h 23m after Collected)
"Pursuing a new way of living with energy, with the vision of realizing an 'energy-free society,' Looop Inc. (Headquarters: Taito-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Soichiro Nakamura; hereinafter 'Looop') is pleased to announce that its Nakashibetsu Solar Power Plant (hereinafter 'Nakashibetsu Solar Power Plant') has been selected by the Ministry of the Environment as a "Good Echo" exemplary case of renewable energy coexisting with the community.
About "Good Echo": Exemplary Cases of Renewable Energy Coexisting with the Community
To achieve net-zero by 2050, expanding the introduction of renewable energy is essential in Japan. However, concerns regarding coexistence with local communities have been observed in some cases, making "coexistence with the community" a challenge in various regions.
Amidst this, there are many cases where the introduction of renewable energy, often led by local governments, contributes to solving regional issues and brings benefits such as job creation and enhanced disaster resilience. In these instances, renewable energy is effectively utilized as a powerful tool for regional problem-solving.
Therefore, the Ministry of the Environment has launched a special website, "Good Echo," to showcase these "cases where renewable energy is effectively utilized as a means to coexist with the community and solve regional issues."
"Good Echo": Exemplary Cases of Renewable Energy Coexisting with the Community
https://policies.env.go.jp/policy/roadmap/goodecho/
Community Coexistence Initiatives at Nakashibetsu Solar Power Plant
The initiatives at the Nakashibetsu Solar Power Plant in Nakashibetsu Town, Hokkaido, have recently been selected by the Ministry of the Environment. This recognition is for its low-environmental-impact power generation business utilizing unused land, and for providing local children with opportunities to consider climate change and energy issues as "their own" through environmental education for the next generation, acknowledging these series of community contributions.
1. Low-Environmental-Impact Renewable Energy Generation Leveraging Land History
This power plant was constructed utilizing the site of a closed golf course. This approach minimizes the environmental impact associated with development, while capitalizing on the climate characteristics of the eastern Hokkaido area, which offers high power generation efficiency due to abundant sunlight and low temperatures. It generates a maximum output of approximately 31,600 kW, equivalent to the power consumption of about 6,100 general households.
2. "Power Generation Classroom" Led by New Employees in Collaboration with Local Elementary School
Beyond simply supplying electricity, this power plant has hosted a "Power Generation Classroom" in collaboration with Maruyama Elementary School in Nakashibetsu Town five times since 2025. Led by Looop's new employees, this classroom offers children opportunities to learn about renewable energy and SDGs in a fun, game-like manner through quizzes and a power plant walk rally.
For more details, please visit the "Good Echo" website for exemplary cases of renewable energy coexisting with the community:
https://policies.env.go.jp/policy/roadmap/goodecho/nakashibetsucho/
Comment from Soichiro Nakamura, President and CEO of Looop Inc.
We are deeply honored to be selected as an exemplary case for "Good Echo," showcasing renewable energy coexisting with the community. Our journey began with the experience of delivering solar power to the disaster-stricken areas immediately after the Great East Japan Earthquake. Subsequently, our first self-constructed "Kakinoki Power Plant" in Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture, in 2011, was completed with the support and hard work of the local community, despite our limited funds and experience. Even 15 years later, it continues to operate, carefully maintained by the local residents.
This commitment to "protecting and nurturing energy bases together with the community" is also inherited at the Nakashibetsu Solar Power Plant. The "Power Generation Classroom" held at the local Maruyama Elementary School at this facility, which utilizes the former golf course site, is a prime example of this evolution. By transforming the power plant into a learning space for the next generation, we are "nurturing the future" of children together with the community. This is the essence of community coexistence that we aim for.
A power plant is not just equipment; it is a place filled with people's aspirations and community connections. Moving forward, we will continue to foster a prosperous future through renewable energy together with the local community, and strive towards realizing our vision of an 'energy-free society.'
About Looop Inc.
Looop Inc. was founded in April 2011 with the vision of "realizing an energy-free society," based on the experience of illuminating disaster-stricken areas with solar power and bringing joy to their residents in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Currently, we are broadly promoting power retail business (service name: Looop Denki) that proposes optimization of power consumption using proprietary technology, development and operation of renewable energy power plants and storage batteries, and energy management. Starting in 2025, we will fully launch our smart home business. By integrating energy data with AI and IoT, we are pursuing a new form of energy that not only "generates" and "consumes" but also "intelligently utilizes" energy integrated into daily life, thereby expanding the possibilities for people and society.
Establishment Date: April 4, 2011
Headquarters Location: Ueno Frontier Tower (Reception 17F), 3-24-6 Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Soichiro Nakamura, President, CEO / Executive Officer
Capital: 6,680 million yen *As of January 2026
Sales: 50,524 million yen *Standalone, Fiscal Year ending March 2025
URL: https://looop.co.jp/
About "Good Echo": Exemplary Cases of Renewable Energy Coexisting with the Community
To achieve net-zero by 2050, expanding the introduction of renewable energy is essential in Japan. However, concerns regarding coexistence with local communities have been observed in some cases, making "coexistence with the community" a challenge in various regions.
Amidst this, there are many cases where the introduction of renewable energy, often led by local governments, contributes to solving regional issues and brings benefits such as job creation and enhanced disaster resilience. In these instances, renewable energy is effectively utilized as a powerful tool for regional problem-solving.
Therefore, the Ministry of the Environment has launched a special website, "Good Echo," to showcase these "cases where renewable energy is effectively utilized as a means to coexist with the community and solve regional issues."
"Good Echo": Exemplary Cases of Renewable Energy Coexisting with the Community
https://policies.env.go.jp/policy/roadmap/goodecho/
Community Coexistence Initiatives at Nakashibetsu Solar Power Plant
The initiatives at the Nakashibetsu Solar Power Plant in Nakashibetsu Town, Hokkaido, have recently been selected by the Ministry of the Environment. This recognition is for its low-environmental-impact power generation business utilizing unused land, and for providing local children with opportunities to consider climate change and energy issues as "their own" through environmental education for the next generation, acknowledging these series of community contributions.
1. Low-Environmental-Impact Renewable Energy Generation Leveraging Land History
This power plant was constructed utilizing the site of a closed golf course. This approach minimizes the environmental impact associated with development, while capitalizing on the climate characteristics of the eastern Hokkaido area, which offers high power generation efficiency due to abundant sunlight and low temperatures. It generates a maximum output of approximately 31,600 kW, equivalent to the power consumption of about 6,100 general households.
2. "Power Generation Classroom" Led by New Employees in Collaboration with Local Elementary School
Beyond simply supplying electricity, this power plant has hosted a "Power Generation Classroom" in collaboration with Maruyama Elementary School in Nakashibetsu Town five times since 2025. Led by Looop's new employees, this classroom offers children opportunities to learn about renewable energy and SDGs in a fun, game-like manner through quizzes and a power plant walk rally.
For more details, please visit the "Good Echo" website for exemplary cases of renewable energy coexisting with the community:
https://policies.env.go.jp/policy/roadmap/goodecho/nakashibetsucho/
Comment from Soichiro Nakamura, President and CEO of Looop Inc.
We are deeply honored to be selected as an exemplary case for "Good Echo," showcasing renewable energy coexisting with the community. Our journey began with the experience of delivering solar power to the disaster-stricken areas immediately after the Great East Japan Earthquake. Subsequently, our first self-constructed "Kakinoki Power Plant" in Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture, in 2011, was completed with the support and hard work of the local community, despite our limited funds and experience. Even 15 years later, it continues to operate, carefully maintained by the local residents.
This commitment to "protecting and nurturing energy bases together with the community" is also inherited at the Nakashibetsu Solar Power Plant. The "Power Generation Classroom" held at the local Maruyama Elementary School at this facility, which utilizes the former golf course site, is a prime example of this evolution. By transforming the power plant into a learning space for the next generation, we are "nurturing the future" of children together with the community. This is the essence of community coexistence that we aim for.
A power plant is not just equipment; it is a place filled with people's aspirations and community connections. Moving forward, we will continue to foster a prosperous future through renewable energy together with the local community, and strive towards realizing our vision of an 'energy-free society.'
About Looop Inc.
Looop Inc. was founded in April 2011 with the vision of "realizing an energy-free society," based on the experience of illuminating disaster-stricken areas with solar power and bringing joy to their residents in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Currently, we are broadly promoting power retail business (service name: Looop Denki) that proposes optimization of power consumption using proprietary technology, development and operation of renewable energy power plants and storage batteries, and energy management. Starting in 2025, we will fully launch our smart home business. By integrating energy data with AI and IoT, we are pursuing a new form of energy that not only "generates" and "consumes" but also "intelligently utilizes" energy integrated into daily life, thereby expanding the possibilities for people and society.
Establishment Date: April 4, 2011
Headquarters Location: Ueno Frontier Tower (Reception 17F), 3-24-6 Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Soichiro Nakamura, President, CEO / Executive Officer
Capital: 6,680 million yen *As of January 2026
Sales: 50,524 million yen *Standalone, Fiscal Year ending March 2025
URL: https://looop.co.jp/
FAQ
Why was the Nakashibetsu Solar Power Plant selected as "Good Echo"?
It was recognized for its low-environmental-impact generation utilizing unused land and its community contributions through environmental education at a local elementary school.
What is the "Good Echo" initiative?
It is an initiative by the Ministry of the Environment to showcase excellent examples of renewable energy coexisting with local communities.
What is Looop Inc.'s approach to community coexistence?
They aim to nurture the future together with the community by making the power plant a learning space for the next generation.
What happens in the "Power Generation Classroom"?
Participants learn about renewable energy and SDGs in a game-like manner through quizzes and walk rallies.
What is Looop Inc.'s vision?
To realize an 'energy-free society'.