The Forest Tragedy of the 21st Century

From the very beginning of European settlement in North America, they were exporting the native timber. Much of the economy depended on the harvesting of giant, strong, pine trees being exported to England where wood was scarce. By the early 1900’s the United States forests had dropped from one billion acres down to 700,000 acres. During this time, the people truly did think this was a good idea as they did not consider the collateral damage. It wasn’t until the early 1900’s that the government, industries, and private citizens became concerned and organized efforts to prioritize forest preservation. The pendulum made a major swing and timber harvesting became vilified by the general public and the national media. By the 1970’s it started to become clear that we must find a balance between preservation and exploitation. We learned that we must prioritize sustainable management to support the needs of future generations.

Flash forward to 2021 and “Green Energy” is the phrase of the century. The phrase doesn’t really trick me, though. The goal of “green energy” is profit, not sustainability. It’s a way to get votes, not a way to protect your children’s children’s children. A major player in the clean energy world is solar. It sounds like such a great idea: use the sun to make our energy, but my common sense tells me there are a LOT of problems with this so called “green” method. Let’s just say it very simply: I find it very interesting that it is suddenly okay to clear cut forested land, destroy wildlife habitat, and spray chemicals for fields of man made panels. All of this in Maine, where half the year there is hardly any sun and a lot of snow. Week after week I see a new solar company sent up shop on our Main Street, build massive farms of solar panels, and we receive almost constant phone calls to CLEAR CUT land to plant man made, toxic, ugly, limited lifetime, solar panels. Read that word again CLEAR CUT. Help me understand this. Why is this now not only encouraged, but subsidized by the government? I feel like the government is so anxious to reach green energy goals that they can’t see past the end of their nose. Is this going to be the next forest tragedy? It is early yet, but I feel we will get more and more calls to clear land for these hideous panels. Just wait until there is one in your back yard because your neighbor got sold on the great idea.

Sustainable forest management is critical in the climate game. Growing trees absorb carbon dioxide, provide wildlife habitat, recreation, prevent soil erosion and protect our water. I have read numerous articles about the benefits of solar, just trying to understand it and see the perspective. While I understand the numbers can certainly make solar look like a wise choice, I absolutely do not think land should be cleared for them. There are many alternative ways to install them ie: rooftops, over large parking lots, etc. I beg that we don’t take our beautiful state and clear it for this. But even after all the numbers and all of the benefits there is one question mark that I can’t understand in the pursuit of sustainable energy. It is my understanding that sustainable means - able to go on in perpetuity, generations, repeatable forever. From what I read, these panels don’t even have the lifetime of one third of one generation. Where will all of these panels go in 20 years. What landfill will take them? Will toxic chemicals be released when they break and the rain washes it into our waters? What happens to the landowner when the solar company stops receiving incentives from the government and their company goes bankrupt? Lastly, when this all goes to heck in 20 years, will loggers be the villains again because they cut the trees?

You know what I KNOW can go on forever and ever and ever? Growing trees, harvesting some for our needs, including energy, and then growing some more. There are no question marks about it. It has been happening forever and it can happen forever more.

I don’t have the answers, just a lot of questions. I am not an expert, but I try to learn and not be sold on the next big thing because in my short life so far, the next big thing is never sustainable.