• Soil erosion. Removing soils and vegetation causes erosion, soil compaction, and changes in soil chemistry, impacting soil health and productivity and leading to potential sediment runoff from a newly-cleared site into a local watershed.

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• Pollution.  Zinc and other heavy metals are found in solar ground mount posts. Due to acidity of the soil, these metals are at high risk of leaching into the soil and bogs where our produce is grown.

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      Examples of this are in the Carver, MA cranberry bog solar project.

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• Reduced Crop Yield. MA has a unique climate that is adequate for only certain crops.

 

There is insufficient research to

1. determine whether ground mounted solar affects crop yield.

2. develop a best methods guide for growing produce under solar panels.

Having a reduced yield would result in a loss of locally grown produce, increasing the need to import food from elsewhere, growing our carbon emissions. 

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