The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) released a new report to aid policymakers in siting community solar projects.
The report starts with the premise that community solar systems should be designed to result in ecosystem and agricultural benefits. SEIA recommends policymakers deploy existing well-established tools to avoid, minimize and/or mitigate any environmental impacts associated with community solar construction.
Well-designed community solar projects can result in increased crop and clean energy production, the report says. Community solar projects can also result in other benefits, such as protecting soils and providing habitat for many important species.
To avoid the worst impacts of climate change and meet aggressive renewable energy goals, states need to build significantly more community solar projects, according to SEIA. The framework in the report should be used by policymakers as they tackle the challenges of siting more solar projects to help them reach clean energy goals.
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