New Report Examines Mass. Forests and Solar Siting, Offers Path to Net-Zero Goals

A new report released today by scientists in the Thompson Lab at Harvard Forest and Mass Audubon offers the first-ever comprehensive economic and geospatial analysis of whether Massachusetts can meet its solar goals while protecting its most valuable natural and working lands. 

The report proposes a shift from large-scale, ground-mount solar to solar projects on rooftops, parking lots, and already-developed lands. It offers a way forward for Massachusetts to meet its goal of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 while simultaneously protecting forests and farmlands.

• Read the full report by Michelle Manion, Jonathan Thompson, Katie Pickrell, Lucy Lee, Heidi Ricci, Jeff Collins, Josh Plisinski, Ryan Jones, Gabe Kwok, Drew Powell, and Will Rhatigan.
• See a news article by WBUR: Mass. can expand solar without chopping so much forest, report says
• Read a news article by ecoRI: Massachusetts and Rhode Island Share Solar-Siting Buffoonery 
• Read the press release