Depending on how old you were in 1986, you probably remember the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. The accident resulted in an explosion and fire that spread radioactive particles across much of the western Soviet Union and Europe. The site has been described as a wasteland that would be uninhabitable for the next 20,000 years.
But Chernobyl could be the perfect site for a solar farm. According to Bloomberg, Ukraine is now seeking investors to develop solar power in the 1,000-square-mile exclusion zone where radiation prohibits forestry, farming and human habitation.
The site seems particularly suitable for a solar farm because it gets lots of sunlight and the land is cheap. Also, Ukraine’s environment minister Ostap Semerak says there are already "high-voltage transmission lines" there "that were previously used for the nuclear stations."
Investing in solar energy will not only help wean Ukraine off of its dependency on natural gas, which should help ease conflicts with Russia and improve public opinion of Ukraine among those in conflict zones along the Russian border. It will also send a powerful message to the world about the future of clean energy.
Already a number of investors in the United States and Canada seem interested, and Ukraine hopes to begin installing panels on the site by the end of the year says Grist. Signing this petition will help demonstrate public support for this project and help keep it on track.
Please show your support for making Chernobyl a solar farm. Add your name to the petition now.
To Ukraine's Minister of the Environment, Ostap Semerak:
As a strong advocate of sustainable energy, I am writing in support of Ukraine's goal to make Chernobyl a solar farm. There are compelling arguments for using the Chernobyl exclusion zone as the site of a solar farm, and there seems to be no scarcity of companies willing to invest in this project.
The site seems particularly suitable for a solar farm because it gets lots of sunlight and the land is cheap. Also, Ukraine’s environment minister Ostap Semerak says there are already "high-voltage transmission lines" there "that were previously used for the nuclear stations."
Investing in solar energy will not only help wean Ukraine off of its dependency on natural gas, which should help ease conflicts with Russia and improve public opinion of Ukraine among those in conflict zones along the Russian border. It will also send a powerful message to the world about the future of clean energy.
[YOUR COMMENTS]
For all these reasons, I enthusiastically support the Ukraine's intent to make Chernobyl a solar farm.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
