The Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, recently revised the “Review Procedure for Agricultural Authorities Approving Usage of Agricultural Land” in order to avoid disputes regarding electricity generation in woodland, and a similar situation has happened in major solar state Massachusetts in the US, where the Government of Massachusetts is currently planning to revise the laws and tighten the standards on electricity generation, so as to reduce the possibility in disputes regarding solar development and forests.
According to the data of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the installed capacity of solar for Massachusetts is approximately 2,800MW, which is enough to provide electricity for 500K families, though most solar power plants are situated in the wilderness, and has triggered local environmental groups. As commented by local non-profit organization Mass Audubon, the extreme climate derived by climate variability has resulted in the requirement of more natural land to maintain the conservation of water and soil.
The report of Mass Audubon pointed out that solar development accounted for 1/4 of natural development projects of Massachusetts between 2012 and 2017, and 15K acres of land may be replaced by solar power plants, if the government decides to turn a blind eye. The report also prompts the government to encourage citizens to install solar panels on top of houses, car parks, and developed land.
In accordance with the coverage of foreign media, various states are currently drafting new regulations in the hope of restricting the establishment locations of solar power. The purpose of developing renewable energy is not only reducing the emission of carbon dioxide, but also the impact on the environment, though the purpose will lose its true meaning if the development projects end up damaging the ecological environment and the benefits of agriculture and fishery.
However, solar developers also wish to speak up regarding the specific regulation, as it will endanger 80 solar power projects, and is expected to impact 1,500 job opportunities and a total investment of US$730 million. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the loss of 4,300 job opportunities, which accounts for half of the solar industry in Massachusetts.
Ilan Gutherz, Vice President of community solar developer Borrego Solar, pointed out that solar businesses will deteriorate by 80% as soon as the new regulation goes into effect.
Massachusetts had been encouraging developers to establish solar power plants in cheap and undeveloped wild land in the past to propel the development of solar power, thus the grandfather clause primarily used for the regulation that is currently under planning by the state government will not trace back to the previous principles, which include the projects of solar panel installation in undeveloped wild land. Kathleen Theoharide, secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, commented that it would be best if a median is found amongst clean energy demand, environmental protection, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration.
Western and central Massachusetts that are inhabited with less population are becoming increasingly concerned over the impact of solar power on the land as solar installations increase in Massachusetts. SEIA spokesperson Sean Gallagher commented that it is becoming progressively difficult in obtaining the balance between land conservation and renewable energy development, especially in a relatively small state like Massachusetts.
Bluewave Solar spokesperson Drew Pierson commented that the satisfaction on the target of zero carbon by 2050 will require a further 25,000MW of solar power, and roughly 70K acres of land.
(Cover photo source: Flickr/Michael Mees CC BY 2.0)