Forests

Can public welfare forests be used to build solar power generation facilities

This report provides a rapid assessment of potential conversions of forestland to solar facilities. We evaluate the current land use footprint of solar facilities in the United States and land use conversions to support solar production. In Massachusetts, future proliferation of these sunlight-soaking cells will be a high priority: About five times more solar energy will be needed to reach the state's goal of net-zero. . Across the 245 million acres of public land it manages, the BLM maintains more than 19 million acres as open for potential solar development, subject to a variance process. Wear, Jordan Wingenroth,and Ann Bartuska Publication Reading time 1. Responsible development of renewable energy on. . Stepping into any of Rhode Island's forests, most people perceive similar things: a lush, green canopy overhead; dappled sunlight casting shadows on the forest floor; birds and small animals rustling in the underbrush.