Cutting Trees For Solar Panels

That s a tough question.

Cutting trees for solar panels.

In the foreground is a copse of trees which could be cut down to make space for solar panels. Ironically maximizing those solar benefits may involve cutting down a tree or two. One of the only instances where cutting down trees can be environmentally friendly is if trees were being removed to maximize solar panel exposure. Trinity episcopal church in stoughton is surrounded by woodland.

Robin lubbock wbur for the. Tim yaotome october 23 2018 at 3 49 am as i do agree that a tree s leaves and branches will block out the sun s path towards the solar panels a rather important reason to have a tree removed is whether the tree will fall down on the panel during tornados strong winds or hurricanes. Removing trees to get more exposure to solar panels is actually very environmentally friendly. 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.

Branches and leaves can block sunlight from hitting your roof which means your solar panels aren t maximizing their electricity production potential. Sometimes solar can involve painful tradeoffs. Let s do the math here. 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.

Fifty is what the numbers say. A mature tree absorbs carbon dioxide co2 at a rate of 48 pounds a year. On a net environmental basis you are doing the right thing. 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.

Some environmental benefits of trees however can be counted. Companies like six flags are cutting down trees to make room for solar panels and missing part of the point of environmentalism. It s a difficult truth but solar power and trees do not always get along. 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.

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.