[Peakoil] Solar power boom threatens prime agricultural land

[Keith]

I endorse fully your support for Julian Cribb's analysis. However, note that some of the "released" land has been over-grazed then run down and overgrown with thistles, the fences have fallen over, litter and old car bodies have accumulated - all to the extent that the diversion of such land for housing is seen as an unmitigated improvement.

An example I am familiar with is the land to the west of Melbourne around Caroline Springs and Melton. The development around these locations is, of course, totally dependent on cheap oil for commuting and food supplies.
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Keith Thomas
keith at evfit.com
www.evfit.com
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On 14/11/2011, at 9:30 PM, W & C Steensby wrote:

This is in California: http://www.modbee.com/2011/11/12/1945091/solar-power-boom-threatens-prime.html

Snippets:
"The question of when a farm is a farm is coming up often these days in California's agricultural heartland, where the sunny days and wide open spaces that make it America's most productive ag land are proving an irresistible mix to developers seeking to get in on the push for renewable energy. ... The land rush is on, and to critics it looks like the leapfrog housing boom of the late 20th century that chopped up some agricultural regions into too-small pieces."

Only a matter of time before the land rush starts here, although our comparatively smaller needs may prevent the worst from happening.

I like Prof Julian Cribb's analysis: "development" or "release" of land are terms that from now on must be clearly understood as a euphemism for the destruction of its food potential.

Cheers,
Walter