RESIDENTS of a small American town have been absolutely skewered online and found themselves the target of global ridicule after expressing their fears about solar panels.

The good folk of Woodland, North Carolina, have rejected a proposal for a new solar farm amid concerns it would “suck up all the energy from the sun.”

The motion to build the solar farm near a power plant was rejected during a recent council meeting due to a bizarre array of fears and distrust expressed by locals, reports the Roanoke-Chowan News Herald.

Even Jane Mann, identified as the town’s retired science teacher, was worried the solar panels were effectively stealing sun from plants.

She said she had observed areas near solar panels in the town where plants were brown and was concerned that photosynthesis would not happen in areas with solar panels nearby.

She also raised the high number of cancer deaths in the town and said no one could tell her solar panels weren’t to blame.

“People come with hidden agendas,” she said. “Until we can find if anything is going to damage this community, we shouldn’t sign any paper.”

According to reports from the council meeting, Ms Mann’s husband Bobby shared her concerns and was worried solar farms would “suck up all the energy from the sun” and businesses would not come to the town.

Other residents fretted about the aesthetics of the town and the impact another solar farm would have on property prices.

One resident, Jean Barnes, presented council members with a petition signed by residents who opposed the establishment of any more solar farms.

Despite the efforts of company representatives from the solar industry to allay fears, the result of the council meeting was a complete moratorium on solar farms in the area.

But the backlash has been savage, and at times, hilarious.

Sports journalist and political commentator Keith Olbermann was one of many who took to Twitter to ponder whether Woodland had just claimed the mantle of “dumbest town in the US?”.

Just in case you weren't aware.. solar panels do not soak up energy nor do they stop photosynthesis in the area. Let North Carolina know. — John Carnevale (@John_Carnevale) December 14, 2015

We shouldn’t be too hard on Woodland, North Carolina, for the dumb solar panels thing. They do have nice Confederate Flag industry, though. — Mr M80 (@Epigrammist) December 14, 2015

Woodland in North Carolina, have the stupidest council in the entire world. Dumb idiots that are afraid the sun will drain with solar panels — Fausto Julian Moreno (@julianmoreno) December 14, 2015

So people in a village in north carolina are refusing solar panels into their village bc theyre scared the plants wont get enough sunlight? — Dewi Nicky[REDKWEH] (@DewiNickyX) December 14, 2015

A bunch of idiots in North Carolina actually believe solar panels cause cancer. https://t.co/BiSfTV1koo — Total Frat Move (@totalfratmove) December 14, 2015

2015. The Australian thinks Indians would try to eat solar panels. Meanwhile in North Carolina, they think solar panels will drain the sun. — Gregory McIntyre (@gregmcintyre) December 14, 2015