Solar farm threat to Goulburn Valley orchards

GOULBURN Valley fruit growers are calling for solar farms to be located away from orchards and other irrigated properties, in the midst of growing evidence the large banks of solar panels act as massive heat sinks.

Concern that solar farms act as massive heat sinks and so should
be kept well clear of orchards and irrigated properties in the GV.

An article published in the science journal Nature has reported solar industrial developments act as heat banks, raising surrounding temperatures by 3-4C.

The US team behind the research found that not only do solar farms increase daytime temperatures, but they acted as heat sinks that delay cooling at night across all seasons.

Read Peter Hunt’s Weekly Times story - “Solar farm threat to Goulburn Valley orchards.”

Urban greening is good for the environment. Let's hope it's good for local people too

December 12, 2017 — The New York City High Line is a section of the New York Central Railroad, an elevated freight rail line, located in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. It was under threat of demolition until 1999, when the community-based organization Friends of the Highline began a campaign to preserve it.

Today the Highline is an iconic urban green space that has inspired cities around the world to incorporate the built as well as the natural environment in their economic development plans, allowing them to combat blight and foster urban renewal while at the same time being environmentally friendly. Indeed, the High Line, the Atlanta BeltLine, the 606 in Chicago, and many other projects have all documented economic improvement in the surrounding area.

However, there’s another side to the story

Read the Ensia story by Manohar Patole - “OPINION: URBAN GREENING IS GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. LET’S ENSURE IT’S GOOD FOR LOCAL PEOPLE, TOO.”