Letter: Additional proposed solar farm not needed in the Poconos

Send letters to the editor (up to 300 words) to [email protected].

Additional solar farm not needed

Yet another solar farm is being proposed for Monroe County, on a 126-acre property along Merwinsburg Road in the Effort section of Chestnuthill Township. This is in addition to the proposed Effort Solar plant spanning 500 acres of land in Polk and Chestnuthill Townships, roughly a mile from the Merwinsburg site.

The newly proposed site is described as “currently forested,” implying that the property will be deforested for the installation of solar panels. The remainder of the property is described as “hillside with steep slopes.” Because it is cheaper to install solar panels on level ground, it is likely that in addition to the removal of trees and vegetation, leveling and grading will be required, which can lead to soil erosion and sediment runoff, sometimes into waterways, disrupting local and aquatic ecosystems.

According to the developer, only about 25 acres of the site will be developed, and the solar panels will not be visible from the road. This is irrelevant. When it comes to solar farms, size doesn’t matter. Whether it be 25, 100, or 500 acres, the impacts of solar arrays to surrounding communities are the same: deforestation, habitat loss, water pollution, tons of hazardous waste, and visual pollution in a region that is famous for its scenic attractions and ecological diversity.

Anybody who believes our region is benefitting from these so-called “green energy” projects is sadly misinformed. Utility costs are going up and homes will still be dependent on the grid for decades to come, while future generations are left holding the bag in terms of environmental degradation and the cleanup of toxic waste.

— Juliet Perrin, Albrightsville

This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: Letter: Additional proposed solar farm not needed in the Poconos