Letter: Shade provided by elevated solar panels would create opportunity for grazing

One result of solar energy development over vast tracts of desert land in the western U.S. is the creation of shade. While converting solar energy to electrical energy the closely set opaque solar panels block much sunlight which should reduce soil temperature and soil water evaporation. This situation creates economic opportunity for farmers/ranchers to regain use of the land for grazing by elevating the height of the pedestals of the solar panel arrays to, say, 10 feet (or even more). This would permit cattle to graze, in partial shade, the grass which could flourish in the cooler wetter soil (further aided by composted manure). The frameworks of the solar arrays could even be painted green. Other activities under the elevated solar arrays also come to mind.

H. Richard Klatt, Sandy

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