Worcester Residents Unable To Convince City To Take Formal Action To Mitigate Effect of Public Trees on Solar Panels

The Worcester City Committee has turned down a second request to City Hall to implement a plan to balance the needs of homes and businesses with rooftop solar panels with the planting of trees on public routes.

Cutting down trees for Solar Panels?

(Photo : Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Nowadays, there is a significant increase in the search for sustainable energy sources.

In order to produce energy that is environmentally beneficial, wind turbines and solar farms are growing all over the world, as per Fuerst Solutions.

But the issue is that these kinds of remedies frequently require changing the environment.

Large tracts of land, for instance, on which to erect wind or solar farms.

The condition of the land before building a solar or wind farm determines if it will be environmentally friendly or not. The only way it can be environmentally benign is if no trees are taken down to make room.

In a variety of settings and habitats, from forests to deserts, solar energy farms are being built all over the world. The location determines how these farms or plants affect the environment.

Trees are removed and vegetation is mowed to reduce shadowing; this keeps vegetation at one meter and below.

Naturally, this has a significant influence on animal and plant life, which makes obtaining a permit for the construction of solar farms quite difficult.

To date, solar farms have required the removal of millions of trees from all over the world.

Nearly 2 million trees have been planted in South Korea throughout recent years.

Over 4,407 hectares of woodland have suffered harm because of these solar energy farms.

Even if the government wants to encourage individuals to adopt renewable energy, this should not be done at the expense of eliminating the world's primary natural energy supply.

Also Read: Deforestation May Offer Climate, and Economic Benefits in Certain Areas

Worcester residents worry about the effect of trees on solar panels

The Green Worcester Advisory Committee decided against requesting the city to create a formal policy on Monday night. Ted Conna, a committee member, made the request the second time, as per Telegram & Gazette.

The committee resolved on Monday to have John Odell, the city's top sustainability officer, present the issue to several city agencies and the city's Urban Forestry Tree Commission.

If those levels of discussion take place, Odell would update the Green Worcester Advisory Committee.

Due to its consultative function, the committee was hesitant to ask for a written policy.

As Conna presented his draft proposal in October, he requested if he may make a motion to record the committee's belief that the city should take into consideration a policy on how to deal with street-tree and rooftop solar issues when they occur.

The committee claimed to require additional time to consider the document at the time.

The city might cut the tree and cover the costs if it grows and casts shade on a rooftop solar installation already in place.

It stated that anyone wishing to cut, prune, or remove a public shade tree must obtain the tree warden's permission, pay for the associated costs, and replace the tree if necessary.

Seven city residents who were chosen by the city manager make up the Green Worcester Advisory Committee.

Its responsibility is to ensure that Worcester makes progress toward the objectives of the Green Worcester Plan.