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A better way
"Massachusetts has ample sites for solar to reach the state’s GHG emission reduction goals without further sacrifices of natural and working lands."-MA Audubon/Harvard Forest Study
The Audubon/Harvard Forest Study found that the following solutions are possible to minimize damage to our natural lands while reaching our state goal:
1. Build on landfills and brownfield sites
Massachusetts has been a national leader in building solar developments on landfills. 50% of all solar built on landfills is in MA (as of 2020). But we can do more.
Many landfills and brownfield sites remain available to be utilized for solar development. According to the Rocky Mountain Institute, Massachusetts has landfills offering more than 2.5 GW capacity when fully utilized. Significant opportunities remain.
A 14.3 acre landfill solar project in Beverly, MA.
2. Build on commercial buildings
Malls, parking lots and other commercial buildings are effective places for solar. Unfortunately, many of these buildings are not strong enough to support the weight of solar on their roofs. New building codes should be developed for new commercial buildings to require load-bearing capacity for rooftop solar.
3. Build on vacant/uneconomic property
Massachusetts has many malls, strip malls, parking lots and other underused property. Affordable and commercial housing can be built on these sites with roof mounted solar installed. This solution will not only help the state reach its net-zero goals but also help solve the Commonwealth's housing shortage.
Many MA airports and golf courses are examples of vacant/uneconomic land. The Harvard Forest Study gives us examples of what has already been done and what could be done in the future:
"The former Shirley airport, for example, has been converted to a large ground-mount array on 34 acres of former runway and adjoining land. Closed shopping malls like Eastfield have large paved areas that could host solar..."
"Of the more than 280 golf courses in Massachusetts , some are no longer viable businesses. Several of these have already been converted to hosting solar, including private clubs in Warren (54 ac), Hardwick (19 ac), and a public driving range in Lancaster (25 ac). While some golf courses and former airfields are strong candidates for ecological restoration and habitat (e.g., Pine Grove Golf Course in Northampton), others with lower ecological value are excellent candidates for new ground-mount systems."
4. State and municipality buildings.
Many state agencies, colleges, municipalities and non-profits have their own net-zero targets. Because of this, even solar projects that will take longer to get a return on investment are built.
Many colleges are leaders in canopy solar in parking lots and other vacant land owned by the state. In addition to MBTA stations, schools like UMass Amherst, Roxbury and Bristol community colleges have all installed canopy solar.
Canopies are not only an effective use of solar but helpful to protect cars from the elements. 35,000 acres of parking lots are estimated to be able to host solar, the potential canopy solar capacity is nearly 10 GW.
A canopy solar project at UMass Amherst.
5. Proforestation
Proforestation is an approach where existing forests are kept intact for the purpose of maximizing carbon sequestration and ecosystem services. Bill Moomaw’s 2019 article, “Intact Forests in the United States: Proforestation Mitigates Climate Change and Serves the Greatest Good,” explains why proforestation is the best strategy to increase negative emissions using forests and how to best implement it.
Studies have shown that older trees absorb more carbon than younger trees, therefore it’s important that we protect these older forests and protect the forests that are becoming older.
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Smithsonian article on Bob Leverett’s analysis of old trees and their contribution to forest health, carbon sequestration: The Old Man and the Tree by Jonny Diamond (January 2022).