Replacing Forests with Solar a Net Positive, But Neighbors Bear an Outsized Burden, New UMass Amherst Study Finds

"This study highlights an ongoing discussion about balancing renewable energy development with local resources management," notes co-author Richard W. Harper, extension professor of urban and community forestry at UMass Amherst. "It has application for residents, professionals and decision-makers throughout Massachusetts, the New England region and beyond."

The researchers suggest that policymakers consider compensation mechanisms, such as community benefit agreements, to offset costs to nearby residents. They also caution that the analysis excluded some factors that could not be quantified, including impacts on groundwater and wildlife disruption, which could be significant in certain locations.

"These issues are still enough to hamper a project, as we saw in this case and in many others," adds Crago, who is also a faculty affiliate of ELEVATE, a graduate training and research program focusing on technical, social and climate challenges in the energy transition. "So, we have to find ways to address those concerns if we're to move forward with solar deployment that is equitable."

The study was also co-authored by Maryam Feyzollahi, a doctoral student in resource economics at UMass Amherst.