By
Spectrum News Staff
Worcester
PUBLISHED 11:30 AM ET Apr. 28, 2021
PUBLISHED April 28, 2021 @11:30 AM
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WORCESTER, Mass. - Clark University recently completed a study on the impact the number of ever-increasing solar panel farms is having on the environments of Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Led by Graduate School of Geography professor John Rogan, Clark students found a "staggering" amount of valuable forest habitat and agricultural land being lost to the development of solar farms.
The school conducted the research after being approached by the Mass Audubon Society to look at impacts the solar farms were having in rural areas.
Research found that the land taken in Massachusetts by solar farm development is equal to that of one-third the city of Worcester's land area. The students found that the current sighting regulations for solar panel farms don't take environmental impacts into effect.