>> You are drawing a conclusion that I don't believe is accurate i.e. we don't necessarily have to cut down forests to supplant carbon energy with solar and wind energy. I'm sure there are plenty of deserts, or open areas we can use, for both projects. <<
Minnesota has no deserts. Aside from building roofs, the remaining available "open areas" are typically forests and farms. Now this questionable government mandate is getting some pushback...
New Minnesota solar mandate law will give power companies a jolt
startribune.com
To meet the mandate, the largest power companies must consider building large, utility-scale solar generators that are common in California, the Southwest and other states, like New Jersey, that have solar standards. A 2-megawatt array — large by solar standards, but equal to the output of just one wind turbine — can cover nearly eight football fields, said Rick Evans, regional government affairs director for Xcel.
Minn. Solar Project Draws Ire For Cutting Down Hundreds Of Trees
minnesota.cbslocal.com
And it’s not just about losing trees, it’s about losing agricultural land too. Bauman says the International Solar Company is buying up vital farmland for almost double the price.
“They were bragging about, ‘This is the best, prime ag land in all of Wright County.’ I don’t think that’s a good spot for solar fields, so there is a lot of concern,” Bauman said. “We’re basically saying, ‘Don’t even approach us for good, prime ag land.’ We need that land for the farmers and for the crops and for the cattle. Ag land should be used for growing things, and for raising things.” |
