It's slightly off-topic, but a recent study has shown that current solar panels are far better than they used to be in terms of overall energy payback.

A few decades ago, it cost almost as much energy to build the panels as they produced over their lifetime. Now with improved materials and production techniques, it requires only 2% to 11% of their eventual energy output to make them. In other words, PVs now make very good sense from a carbon-emissions standpoint.

I wonder what the comparison would be between the carbon savings of the PV panels vs. the carbon sequestration of the trees being removed. I'll bet the solar panels win hands down. (Of course, trees have value beyond being mere carbon sinks. I'll bet one big reason they were planted was as a privacy screen. Then there are issues of aesthetics, wildlife habitat, shade, wind break, and suchlike.)

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Bring back Firefly!

"It is quite clear that Occam's razor does not sharpen in your pyramid." (Nicolas)

"Still, a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest." (Paul Simon)