Does it matter that utility scale solar has a negative effect on the environment — destroying farmland, forests, wetland, recreational land? Does it matter that property values are driven down?

Does it matter that the mining of cobalt, lithium, rare earths and copper is done by slave labor in the Congo and China? (Wall Street Journal: “Cobalt Red: How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives” which documents the degradation of men, women, and children who mine solar materials). “The scale of destruction is enormous, and the magnitude of suffering is incalculable. Congo is the new Heart of Darkness.”

Is the real issue for Chautauqua County towns the money offered by the solar developers? If the sum of money is large enough, does that mean the moral, ethical, environmental issues don’t matter?

Do solar projects benefit host communities? There are temporary payouts, yes, but no local jobs. In fact, solar kills jobs.

It kills recreational jobs. It kills businesses related to tourism. Utility scale solar kills jobs in agriculture. It kills jobs in forestry. When the land is destroyed and not available to these rural occupations, people will leave. The County Farm Bureau: 84% of land targeted for solar is agricultural. An example of further destruction is the Ripley Solar project where 528 additional acres of mature forest will be clear-cut in addition to the hundreds of acres already cut to allow developers to avoid environmental regulations.

Do solar projects make electricity? NYSERDA states 14% of what the solar grifters claim — is the amount of power created by solar projects in this region. Does 14% justify the harm and waste? Does it matter that China makes 97% of the quartz ingots used in all solar? (“Beijing Threatens to Disrupt US Solar” Feb 2, 2023 WSJ describes the control China has of the solar industry — 97%.) It might matter when China cuts the supply and there is no energy. If 97% of solar ingots come from China, they contain toxic PFAS/PFOS “forever chemicals” that contaminate soil, ground water, streams, and lakes.

One option is not to give local subsidies. Towns can decide not to give Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) subsidies. Developers say they will not build if they don’t get PILOT’s – that 70% of their profit is based on subsidies and Production Tax Credits (PTC’s) sold on Wall Street – but have nothing to do with making and selling electricity – because so little electricity is actually produced.

Deny the subsidies that hit taxpayers through increased taxes and utility rates, and destruction of jobs — problem solved — our rural quality of life is preserved and residents will respect local officials for doing the right thing.

Karen Engstrom is a Mayville resident.