The Push for Solar Energy Leaves the Catskills Conflicted

The solar power industry is increasing its presence in the Catskills. This rise is accompanied by debates over land use and accusations of predatory marketing tactics. Pennsylvania, specifically, is in the midst of a heated legal battle.

First lies the question of where to put large solar farms. The vast open spaces suited for them are commonly farm lands. Hundreds of thousands of acres have been converted from farmland for solar development. However, this number is somewhat misleading, says Solar United Neighbors. Monica Carey, the nonprofit’s Pennsylvania Program Director, explains that the soil grade is important to account for. While the land may technically be categorized as farmland, Carey says the soil grade is so low it often was unusable for agriculture. In fact, sometimes solar’s presence can make the soil more tenable in the future.

There’s also been accusations of unethical sales practices by big solar companies. Carey says they’ll often promise free solar installation and then jack up monthly payments to hundreds of dollars. Patrons say the contracts are deceptive and the marketing is invasive. Door-to-door sales are a common practice from companies looking to get buyers on the hook. Carey and the Pennsylvania Program Associate, Rachel Pecharka, spoke with Radio Catskill about the region’s complex relationship with solar power.

In New York and Delaware, community solar is in place, which means residents can access benefits from the electricity demonstrated by solar farms. In Pennsylvania, that issue is currently being debated. Listen for more.

Image: Solar panels in a field (Credit: Canva Photos)