Let’s think about the time scale a bit. not day to day solar production, or seasonal agricultural production, but environmentally, over decades. The solar equipment and it’s supporting structures will be in the field, soaking up sunshine, but that’s not all. Has anyone thought through the long term impact of large scale installations of the metal chemistry of solar cells and their supporting structures in an environment subject to rain of varying acidity? Has anyone simulated the effect on underlying soils and groundwater resources of essentially disposing of electronic equipment on agricultural land? The panels, like anything we make, will degrade over time. Water will seep in and out around the electrical components and wash some amount of their substance into the soil. Certain plants will gather some of the resulting chemicals and some day we may be surprised to find more than e-coli to fear on Romaine. Unless someone is doing some research today, we will find out tomorrow.

Welcome to the field of unintended consequences. For more information see: “An Enemy of the People” by Henrik Ibsen