A Campaign to Grow Solar and Protect Nature

Speak Up for Improvements to Clean Energy Siting!

The state is currently seeking input to improve how clean energy is sited, and we want them to hear from people who care about protecting nature! Read on and learn how you can get involved below.

A Campaign to Grow Solar and Protect Nature

Massachusetts needs to transition away from the dirty fossil fuels that are overheating our planet and destroying our ecosystems. To do that, we need to build a lot more clean energy—and quickly.

Unfortunately, many large solar projects developed in Massachusetts over the last decade have been built at the expense of forests, wetlands, and top-quality farmland. This pattern isn’t good for the planet. Natural lands absorb heat-trapping pollution from the atmosphere. When we convert them to clean energy projects, we’re using one tool against climate change but losing another.  We need to find a way to scale up solar and nature together.

To succeed, we need your support. Sign up today

Generating Clean Energy Without Risking Forests and Farms

Since 2010, over 5,000 acres of forest, wetlands, and farmlands have been developed for solar in Massachusetts, resulting in carbon emissions equivalent to 110,000 cars and the destruction of crucial habitat for wildlife, and the conversion of farmland.

To find a pathway for building the clean energy we need while protecting the nature we have, Mass Audubon teamed up with Harvard Forest to produce Growing Solar, Protecting Nature, an analysis of Massachusetts’ options for siting of future solar energy projects.  

This report shows that we can build significantly more solar on existing rooftops, parking lots, and already developed lands, while leaving our most ecologically rich forests and productive farmlands intact. But to achieve this outcome, we also need changes to state policy and incentives.

Campaign Priorities 

Since the 2023 release of our analysis, state energy leaders have initiated changes to siting policies that have the potential to improve protection of forests, farmlands, and wildlife habitat areas as more clean energy is sited and developed.

Implement Clean Energy Legislation 

An Act upgrading the grid and protecting ratepayers, signed into law in November 2024, creates a new framework for siting and permitting clean energy infrastructure, including solar facilities. Mass Audubon provided significant input on the legislation as an appointed member of the state’s Commission on Energy Infrastructure Siting and Permitting. 

The new law will speed up permitting of clean energy projects while minimizing impacts on nature and environmental justice communities. It require a data-driven, statewide approach to identify low-impact sites, and implements a standard for all projects to avoid and minimize impacts on irreplaceable natural resources. Energy developers will be required to mitigate impacts that cannot be avoided. It also clarifies the role of cities and towns in local permitting.

Now, the state is working with stakeholders and local governments to start implementing this new system for solar and energy siting. Mass Audubon is advocating for guidance and criteria stringent enough to protect as much nature as possible by focusing solar siting on already-developed or other low-impact parcels. We will also push for a strong mitigation program so that developers pay for any impacts to nature which do occur.

Ensure Incentives for Solar Siting Prioritize Nature 

The state Department of Energy Resources (DOER) subsidizes solar development through its Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) program. This ratepayer-funded incentive program supports thousands of solar energy projects in Massachusetts. The incentives for solar development under SMART are larger or smaller depending on the type of system that gets built. For example, solar panels located on a landfill get additional incentives.

We’re concerned by how many community solar projects funded with SMART dollars over the last five years have been built on converted forests.  State funding of solar should be focused on doing more projects on rooftops, parking lot canopies, and low-impact sites for ground-mount projects. Conversely, public dollars should not be available for private developers to convert some of the state’s best forests, farms, and ecosystems, which themselves are instrumental to fighting the climate and biodiversity crises.

The state is currently updating its rules for SMART to reflect trends in the locations and costs of development, with the goal of steering more solar onto previously developed lands including rooftops and parking lots. However, some solar developers are pushing back and looking for more lax restrictions to place solar projects in critical habitat and other areas with high natural resource values.  Mass Audubon will leverage the voices of our members and supporters to ensure forest, farmlands, and wetlands are protected.

How You Can Help 

To achieve our priorities, we’ll need to show that thousands of Massachusetts residents believe we need to protect nature and produce clean energy.

The state is seeking feedback to shape regulations which will implement new siting standards. Mass Audubon and our partners are advocating for rules and criteria the protect high-value forests, farmlands, and communities.

Your voice can make a difference!

Join us and other stakeholders on May 5th and attend the state’s public listening session to advocate for strong environmental criteria for siting solar and other energy projects.

And sign up to join us in submitting feedback on the state’s proposed revisions to the SMART program during the public comment period.

Be a Solar Advocate