LETTERS

Stop butchering our landscape

Posted 2/24/22

To the Editor, Many Warwick residents have tried communicating their concerns over the disregard of some of their elected officials to consider permitting developers the approval of zone changing to allow for solar farms. Most of these properties are

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LETTERS

Stop butchering our landscape

Posted

To the Editor,

Many Warwick residents have tried communicating their concerns over the disregard of some of their elected officials to consider permitting developers the approval of zone changing to allow for solar farms. Most of these properties are zoned residential or open space and would need to be rezoned to light industrial. This zone change would then approve the clear-cutting of our forests and placement of solar farms. It appears some Warwick residents have not made it out of RI to see the forest through the trees and see what other states and cities have done.

I have been traveling for over a month from one city to another peering out the window seat in the anticipation of seeing tons of solar fields dotting the open space; after all, the smallest state, RI, is full of solar fields dotting the landscape where forests used to be. I saw one in Connecticut, none in New York, none in New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland.

Then flying over the Midwest, I had anticipated lots of solar farms over the farmlands, but saw none. As we got closer to Las Vegas, I saw one rather large farm in the desert. Then on to Los Angeles, not one field was in view. Moving on to Phoenix, where I had thought there would be tons, not one – the same with Tucson. Now I am in Mexico, and not one either.

What I am seeing are carports, rooftops, factory and warehouse roofs, malls, walkways and parking lots. There are so many varying designs of solar carports to collect the energy and provide the shade. It is so prevalent everywhere you go.

Then I found out in Los Angeles that you must put solar panels on your roof if you elect to do any reconstruction or new construction, no exceptions. What a novel idea.

Now, why can’t we do this in RI? What about in Warwick? Why do we feel we have to destroy nature and take away the beauty and greenery of our community? Please, call or write your elected officials and tell them to stop allowing the butchering of RI’s landscape and keep our state’s forests and open space just the way they are. Tell them you want them to support the $15 million Open Space Bond so we can purchase these forests and land and keep them as open space.

Leslie Derrig

Warwick

Derrig is chair of the Warwick Land Trust

landscape, solar

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