Cutting Trees For Solar Panels

Sometimes solar can involve painful tradeoffs.

Cutting trees for solar panels.

Let s do the math here. It s a difficult truth but solar power and trees do not always get along. That s what s been happening in massachusetts. Fifty is what the numbers say.

The trend is particularly pronounced in the western part of the state where some residents and environmentalists are worried the demand for cleaner energy is destroying some of their beloved forests. On a net environmental basis you are doing the right thing. That s a tough question. If you are considering cutting down fewer than 50 trees to get the most out of a 7 500 watt solar electric system don t feel guilty.

Ironically maximizing those solar benefits may involve cutting down a tree or two. A mature tree absorbs carbon dioxide co2 at a rate of 48 pounds a year. Branches and leaves can block sunlight from hitting your roof which means your solar panels aren t maximizing their electricity production potential. Some environmental benefits of trees however can be counted.

Robin lubbock wbur for the. Although we can calculate the amount of greenhouse gases offset by solar panels other things just can t be quantified like the sustenance and comfort that trees provide. One of the only instances where cutting down trees can be environmentally friendly is if trees were being removed to maximize solar panel exposure. Sharon lynn president of the league of women voters of seminole county a group that helps residents tap solar power said the league doesn t advocate for the cutting down of trees in every.

I expect most of us would think twice before truly cutting down 50 trees but you get the general point. The state department of energy resources estimates that approximately 2 500 acres of trees equal to the size of 50 boston commons have been cut down to put up solar panels in the last 10 to 15 years. Trinity episcopal church in stoughton is surrounded by woodland. Companies like six flags are cutting down trees to make room for solar panels and missing part of the point of environmentalism.

Removing trees to get more exposure to solar panels is actually very environmentally friendly.