Protect our Forests, Water and Farmland 

Massachusetts’ energy policies are subsidizing and promoting the destruction of forests and farmland for large, industrial solar projects.  Big corporations are clear-cutting forests, stripping the land, and polluting water calling this “green energy.”  

Over 4,000 acres have been clear-cut for solar. The state is calling for another 100,000 acres.^[Forest clear cuts are often in core habitat and critical natural landscapes. We need intact forests, not clear cuts, to protect our water and native biodiversity at a time when plants and animals are going extinct right here in Massachusetts.

 https://www.massaudubon.org/our-conservation-work/advocacy/alternative-energy/solar ;  https://savethepinebarrens.org/resources-2/

Please sign this petition that calls for a moratorium on solar over five acre in size while we take time for citizesn, scientists and our lawmakers have a chance to study the effects of state subsidies on land use in Massachusetts. 

A MORATORIUM IS A TIME OUT

A moratorium is temporary.  It will:

• Temporarily stop the state from using taxpayer and ratepayer money to finance large solar projects; privately financed projects are not affected. A private landowner can build solar and municipalities can issue approvals under their laws. It is only state-financed large solar projects that are under the moratorium.

• Allow municipalities to consider bylaws to best address their residents concerns about solar
   

• Allow the public and experts time to work with lawmakers and regulators to fix the problems with the state’s energy policy

• Protect our forests, water. wildlife, biodiodiversity, farmland and Native American sacred sites from more reckless solar development

• Allow rooftops or existing infrastructure --  80% of US energy needs can be met by rooftop solar.

• Allow solar on land up to 5 acres -- electricity for 190 homes so long as the land has not been cleared in the last 5 years.

Statewide Rally July 31, 2021  in the News