Tree removal for Minnesota solar project prompts legislative action (Countywide moratorium)

[NickB79]

http://midwestenergynews.com/2016/05/09/tree-removal-for-minnesota-solar-project-prompts-legislative-action/

In addition to a countywide moratorium, a controversy over the removal of trees for a Minnesota solar project has prompted an amendment in the state legislature.

The amendment, offered by state Rep. Marion O’Neill, would prohibit solar projects if more than 75 percent of the trees in an area larger than three acres would have to be cut down. The bill to which her amendment was attached cleared the Minnesota House on April 27, though the Senate has yet to take it up.

snip

The controversy erupted in Wright County in early April, when Enel Green Power North America (EGP-NA) workers clear-cut some 11 acres of mature hardwood trees – an area roughly the size of 8 football fields – for the 80 acre solar array.

The location is part of a planned $250 million, 150-megawatt Aurora Solar Project, scattered over 21 sites in 16 Minnesota counties, that is expected to go online at year’s end. The project received approval from the state Public Utilities Commission (PUC) in May 2015.

There is more than enough space across the state to install panels where you don't have to destroy mature forests and prime farmland. No one involved in this project should be surprised that people are outraged over this.

[Wellstone ruled]

1. Hate to pop a bubble on this one.

Believe this has more to do with the State Power Line Routing issues of the 70's. Yes there are tons of Farm Fields available,but appears the Power Line rules put in place to pacify the same people whom are complaining some five decades later.

[NickB79]

3. No, the article clearly states the moratorium is blowback for clearcutting mature hardwoods

The subsequent statewide legislation now proposed may be using power line routing as a defense, but none of this would have occurred had forest and farmland not been leveled without public input.

[Wellstone ruled]

4. Okay.

Like I said,it is Wright County.

[mackdaddy]

2. What about Shopping Malls, or Warehouses?

I have seen clear cutting a much larger area to build a new shopping mall or warehouse complex. I have also been in remote areas of National forest where they clear cut a much larger area than 11 acres. Probably hundreds of acres at once.

I would much rather see solar on flat roof buildings and a canopies over parking lots first. I think this would be a much better use of already committed land area. But the large solar installs like this are big money for large investors and how the investor owned utilities are keeping the new generation in their profit portfolio.

Still putting these over productive farmland does not seem like a good use of the land. There are a lot of "brownfield" areas that had previous contaminated areas that would also be a good reused for large solar installs.