No clearcutting for solar.

OPALCO plans to clear and grade standing forest on Decatur Island for solar panels.

Friends of the San Juans’ analysis identifies roughly 400 trees taller than 49 feet, including about 50 taller than 98 feet, within the proposed clearing areas. OPALCO’s consultant also counted 44 large standing dead trees, known as snags.

Those trees store carbon. The snags provide potential shelter for bats and birds. The forest protects soil and helps absorb rainfall.

OPALCO emphasizes that the land was logged before. A forest that grew back is still a forest worth protecting.

Put solar on rooftops, parking lots and already-cleared land. Leave the forest standing.

Explore Friends of the San Juans’ illustrated forest report. ↗