Solar poses risks to critical habitats of vulnerable species, study finds
A new peer-reviewed study finds significant overlap between vulnerable species and solar energy potential in the Southwest. The paper may be read in full here.
The Southwest, including large swaths of Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah, are identified under the Western Solar Plan as prime areas for utility scale solar thanks to flat and unobstructed terrain and semi-arid climate. The plan opens 31 million acres across 11 Western states to solar projects of five megawatts or larger, with other uses being deprioritized.
Solar development can negatively affect habitats and species and does so over a wide area. Wind and solar generation require at least 10 times as much land per unit of power produced as coal- or natural gas-fired power plants. Water use is significant, as there can be “change[s] in hydrology and water availability,” as “a high amount of water is often needed to clean the solar panels.” Habitat is disturbed, destroyed, or otherwise modified during construction or decommissioning activities. Once solar installations are in place, they act as a physical and visual obstruction and as a local heat island, raising local temperatures.
The study found “significant overlap between potential SED [solar energy development] locations and the high-priority habitats of all target species.” The region is home to vulnerable species such as LeConte’s thrasher, Bendire’s Thrasher, the Sonoran Desert Tortoise, the Mojave Desert Tortoise, and the Burrowing Owl. The study modeled these species’ distribution alongside a site suitability analysis for potential solar developments.
An author of the study, Kylee Fleckenstein, said: “Our study highlights a paradox: the same landscapes that make the Southwest ideal for solar energy development are also critical for the survival of species that are already facing threats from habitat loss, population growth, and climate change.”
Every form of energy production can have negative impacts on the environment. There is a growing awareness in the scientific literature that solar energy harms habitats and species, and policymakers should consider those costs whenever the choice is made to site a solar plant rather than a reliable, affordable, 24/7 baseload plant instead.
