Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities,...
Transcript of Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities,...
![Page 1: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Caroline County SolarOpportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices
May 25, 2017
![Page 2: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
2
Agenda
INTRODUCTION
Open Road Renewables
PART 1: Solar Farms 101
PART 2: Caroline County Solar Market
PART 3: Solar Development Best Practices
RESOURCES
![Page 3: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
3
Open Road Renewables
Greenfield developer of utility‐scale solar generation projects active in MD for >7 years
Chair of the Utility Scale Solar Energy Coalition of Maryland, Board member of the Mid‐Atlantic Renewable Energy Coalition, and active in MDV‐SEIA
Principals formerly with:
Pioneer Green Energy (developed 1,500 MW of operating/under construction wind and solar)
SunEdison (developed 18 operating solar projects)
Extensive development experience in large‐scale solar:
Great Bay Solar (150 MW) in MD owned by Algonquin → under construction
Nixon Solar (6 MW) in MD owned by SunEdison → operating
Wildwood (40 MW), Rio Bravo (40MW) & Pumpjack (20MW) in CA owned by Duke Energy → operating
Primarily focused on PJM; typical project size 50‐150MW; targeting 2019‐20 COD
Active in Maryland solar market for > 7 years and developing in Caroline County > 2 years
![Page 4: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
PART ISolar Farms 101
![Page 5: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
5
Photovoltaics
PV: cells →modules → panels → arrays
Non‐thermal/non‐combustion
Photons from sunlight strike semiconducting material & excite electrons to generate current
panelarray
![Page 6: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
6
Utility‐scale Solar: Components Panels
Crystalline (lower cost)
Thin‐film (higher production)
Racks (Fixed or Tracking)
No foundations→ piles or screws
Sufficient depth (4‐8 feet feet) to overcome wind loading
8‐12 feet high (high end of module)
Fixed‐tilt (south‐facing) Uses less land
Lower cost
Single‐axis trackers (rotate east‐to‐west) Higher production
![Page 7: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
7
Utility‐scale Solar: Components, con’t Medium‐voltage transformers
Medium‐voltage collection lines 34.5kV
2‐3 feet below grade
Inverters (convert DC to AC) Central: 1 inverter per 2+ MW; concrete block
foundations
String: small; incorporated into racking
![Page 8: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
8
Utility‐scale Solar: Components, con’t Fences
Blocks of panels fenced and locked for security and safety
Typically 6‐8‐ft, chain‐link topped w/barbed wire
Access roads ‐ aggregate
Pyranometer station ‐ usually 15 x 15 ft
Measures solar & other weather data
Project switchyard
Step‐up transformer increases voltage from 34.5kv to transmission voltage
![Page 9: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
9
Utility‐scale Solar: Land
Previously disturbed (minimizes wildlife and habitat concerns)
Flat (<3% is ideal; >9% is challenging)
Level or sloped slightly to south
Dry (ease of construction; protect equipment; avoid flooding, wetlands and wildlife)
Clear (no shading of panels; avoid complexity and cost of clearing; aesthetics)
Good soil (ample soil before bedrock; few rocks; good resistivity)
Large farm fields typically are excellent candidates for solar
1 large block or adjacent/nearby blocks separately connected to switchyard
![Page 10: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
10
Utility‐scale Solar: Land, con’t
3‐4 acres/MWac for fixed; 6‐8 acres/MWac for tracking 300‐800 acres for 100 MW
Tracking uses more land than fixed‐tilt, but generates cheaper power
Better land characteristics = less land use
Orientation: Fixed tilt → rows run east‐to‐west
Tracking → rows run north‐to‐south
Space between rows: (12‐18 feet) Enough to minimize panels shading each
other
Access for replacements, repairs and maintenance
Access for mowing
Within a block of panels, more of surface is open than occupied
Blocks of panels are connected to each other or switchyard by buried collection lines
![Page 11: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
11
Utility‐scale Solar: Operational ImpactsType of Impact Impact Details
Fuel Spills None Sun only; no pipelines
Air Pollutants None No combustion (except vehicles)
Water Usage Minimal Panels are cleaned 2‐3x/year to eliminate “soiling” that reduces production (possibly no cleaning in rainy climates)
Water Discharges None Storm‐water only
Waste Generation Minimal ▪ Panel cleaning▪ Equipment replacement, repair and maintenance▪ Fertilizer/pesticide storage for landscaping (far less than ag)
Sound Minimal ▪ Very few moving parts ▪ Substation‐switchyard sound is same as any other▪ Central inverters emit 48‐72 dBA at 10 ft.; background at 150 ft.▪ Trackers (electric motors) emit very small amounts of sound
Viewshed Minimal ▪ Low profile; panels only 8‐12 feet high▪ Panels conform to land surface and have a neat and orderly look▪ Minimal (<2%) reflection; use of non‐reflective glass ▪ Sensitive locations can be addressed by setbacks or screening
![Page 12: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
12
Utility‐scale Solar: “End of Life” Solar modules use simple & long‐lived technology that can generate electricity for decades. Some of the first solar panels ever manufactured are still operating today! Tier 1 modules are warrantied for 25 years but can generate power for 40 or more years
Crystalline (silicon‐based)
80+% glass and aluminum; up to 10% silicon; balance is mostly copper and polymers
In some modules, the only potentially hazardous material is lead in the solder
Passes EPA's Toxic Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) test: non‐hazardous → can be landfilled
Thin Film (Cadmium Telluride‐based)
Exceptionally thin: 1⁄26 thickness of a human hair
CdTe is solid, stable, and insoluble in water
Tested for safety during breakage and during fire
Passes EPA TCLP
Best way to prevent CdTe leeching is to encase it in glass (i.e., in a solar module)
First Solar recycles 100% of its modules
![Page 13: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
13
Solar Farms & Property Taxes – Personal Property Solar projects at or below 2 MWs are property tax exempt in MD.
>2 MW is taxable. County can either:1. Pass legislation that applies a property tax rate to solar farms, or2. Engage in a PILOT agreement in lieu of passing a new property tax
Appraised value of grid‐connected solar farms >2 MW are determined by Maryland DOAT’s Utility & Railroad Valuation division
Electric Generation Property Return, Form 17‐G is used to report all‐in cost of bringing a project online, including all equipment as well as costs like labor, sales tax, shipping, etc. A 50% abatement is applied to determine the appraised value. 3 1/3% annual depreciation rate is applied on the appraised value
Example: Parcel ID #02014114, 336.18 acres per county tax records At 8 acres/MW 42 MW x $1m per MW $42m x 50% abatement 21m appraised value x ??? solar tax rate At 1% solar tax rate, this parcel would generate $210,000 in taxes in its first year Applying this math to 2000 acres would generate $1,250,000 in property tax revenue in the first year per 1% tax rate
![Page 14: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
14
Solar Farms & Property Taxes – Real Estate A change in property use from active farming to solar farming would represent a change in the underlying appraised value of the underlying real estate from agriculture to a market‐value
Caroline County calculates the appraised value by looking at either the purchase price of the property or a capitalized value of lease payments paid by the solar lease (ex. ~$10k/acre appraised value)
This represents a significant increase in real estate property tax value to the county
Example: Parcel ID #02014114, 336.18 acres per county tax records 2016 Assessed value (taxed as agricultural land) ‐ $127,900 ( $380.45/acre) 2016 Real property taxes payable as ag land: $1,456 ($3.83/acre)
Assessed value based on $10k/acre solar market value ‐ $3,361,800 ($10k/acre) Real property taxes payable as solar land: ~$38,257 ($113.8/acre)
On this sample parcel, real property tax revenues to the county would increase by ~30x, not including the personal property tax from the solar equipment shown on the previous slide
Applying this math across 2000 acres, total real property tax to the county would increase by ~$220k
![Page 15: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Utility‐Scale Solar can be a major long‐term contributor to County revenues without impacting County‐wide agricultural industry, lifestyle, or sense of place
While total potential for solar is limited in Caroline County due to a congested electric transmission system and limited transmission infrastructure, solar can have an out‐sized positive impact on the County’s revenues w/out impacting county‐wide farming industry
Converting just 2% of Caroline County’s farmland to solar could result in a 15% increase in annual property tax revenues, not counting indirect benefits from new capital investment and jobs
Ex. A single 100 MW solar farm would take up between 400 and 800 acres and would increase county property tax revenue by ~$1m/year (assumes 2% solar tax)
Note: Caroline County currently has 2 proposed projects totaling ~300 MW. If successful, those 2 projects could increase direct county tax revenue by ~$3m/year
Assumes 2% solar property tax
![Page 16: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
PART IICaroline County Solar Market
![Page 17: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
17
Utility‐scale Solar in Caroline County: Top 4 Misconceptions
This presentation provides a detailed assessment and response to the following 4 misconceptions about solar in Caroline County
Misconception #1: Solar development is growing quickly throughout the Eastern Shore and in Caroline County and growth will continue to accelerate
Misconception #2: By restricting solar development to certain areas with proximity to electric transmission infrastructure can help ensure that solar farms go in “the right places” in Caroline County
Misconception #3: Solar development in Caroline County can negatively impact the county farming industry, agricultural ecosystem, or sense of Caroline County as a rural, predominantly agricultural county
Misconception #4: Limiting individual project size or acreage can help reduce viewshed and other impacts from solar farms
![Page 18: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
18
MD Solar Farms – Sizes and CharacteristicsSize Small commercial
(“behind‐the‐meter”)
Medium(community solar or distribution level farm)*
Large (utility‐scale)*
Notes
MW* range per project
.001 MW to 2 MW >2 MW to 20 MW** >20 MW to 200+ MW * 1 MW can power >160 homes in MD** All proposed projects 2 MW and above are publicly listed on PJM website
Acres per project* 1 to 12 acres 12 to 140 acres >140 acres * ~4 to 8 acres per MW (depends on design)
Cost of Power (c/kWh) 8‐12 cents/kWh 6‐8 cents/kWh 5‐6 cents/kWh * Small projects generate more expensive power but enjoy higher “retail” electricity sales. Medium and Large projects receive lower “wholesale” revenues.
Property Tax Revenue per project
None (tax exempt <2 MW*)
50% x appraised value x solar tax rate**
50% x appraised value x solar tax rate**
* MdCode: General Tax §11‐207(a)(5)** Ex. 100 MW solar farm in Caroline County ~$1m/year @ 2% solar tax rate
Number that could be developed in Caroline? Many Few 2*
* Due to limited transmission capacity, only those projects currently in the PJM queue have a chance at success. Currently only 2 projects in Caroline queue.
Pros Potential electricity savings for small system customers
Medium solar farms can fit in more sites vs. large solar farms
Lowest cost. Largest tax revenue
* Smaller projects enjoy retail pricing and larger projects enjoy economies of scale, medium projects have become less competitive throughout MD
Cons Property tax exempt
Uncompetitive vs. larger projects.
Very few possible sites & grid locations
* It is much more difficult to fit larger projects into the electricity grid than medium & small projects
![Page 19: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
19
Utility‐scale Solar: Declining MD Rate of Growth MD has seen a dramatic drop in the rate of proposed
new projects >2 MW.
The primary reason: the state’s electric grid has reached it’s injection capacity, and new projects require very expensive transmission upgrades that require years to develop and make solar economics untenable.
The PJM interconnection process is costly, inflexible, and takes 3+ years from initial application to when construction can start, often 5+ years
Transmission grid injection capacity, and not the existence of transmission infrastructure, is the primary ingredient in assessing the viability of solar in any given geographical area
Bottom line: Current slate of proposed projects in MD are likely to be the full array of possible projects developable in the foreseeable future, and projects (and counties) are competing against each other to make sure their projects are built
Note: PJM is the regional electric transmission grid operator that regulates Maryland’s transmission system. The PJM interconnection queue is publicly available at the following website: http://www.pjm.com/planning/generation‐interconnection/generation‐queue‐active.aspx
![Page 20: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
20
Very few solar farms proposed in Caroline County
Of the 88 solar farms proposed, under construction, or operating across Maryland >2 MW, only two are in Caroline County. This is primarily due to limited transmission capacity relative to other counties.
![Page 21: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
21
Caroline County’s Transmission Infrastructure Limits Solar Development Potential
• Caroline County has a relative lack of transmission infrastructure, particularly substations at the appropriate voltages
• Due to very long transmission line runs that connect to substations in other counties, the transmission injection capacity in Caroline County is already “spoken for” by currently proposed projects, most of which are outside of Caroline County, leaving no room for new commercially viable projects to be proposed. The proverbial table has been set.
• Should the Caroline County solar projects currently in the PJM queue fail, the injection capacity on those transmission lines will be utilized by competing projects in other counties, not by future projects in Caroline County
![Page 22: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Smaller Projects Don’t Necessarily Mean Smaller Impact
Larger solar farms have fewer neighbors per MW and per acre than smaller solar farms
Larger solar farms have less site perimeter per MW and per acre than smaller solar farms
Larger solar farms can produce cheaper power and are more economically competitive than smaller solar farms, which means they are more likely to be successfully brought online
It can take numerous small solar farms to make up the same capacity (and tax revenue) as a single large solar farm
![Page 23: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
23
Utility‐scale Solar in Caroline County: Top 4 MisconceptionsThis presentation provides a detailed assessment and response to the following 5 misconceptions about solar in Caroline County
Misconception #1: Solar development is growing quickly throughout the Eastern Shore and in Caroline County and growth will continue to accelerate
FACT: The initiation of new large‐scale solar projects has declined precipitously through 2016 into 2017, largely due to the “tapping out” of transmission injection capacity on the Eastern Shore grid. Unlike other land use questions (ex. where to put a landfill, gravel pit, cemetery, or chicken house), the selection of viable sites for utility‐scale solar development is highly technical and fluid.
Misconception #2: By restricting solar development to certain areas with proximity to electric transmission infrastructure can help ensure that solar farms go in “the right places” in Caroline County
FACT: It is transmission injection capacity, NOT proximity to transmission infrastructure, that determines the viability of a geographic area for solar. Due to the competitive and congested nature of the transmission grid, many of the lines and substations throughout the Eastern Shore are already “maxed out” based on the existing queue of proposed projects. i.e. the table has been set, and the potential viable locations of future solar farms are already extremely limited and fixed within the county.
Misconception #3: Solar development in Caroline County can negatively impact the county farming industry, agricultural ecosystem, or sense of Caroline County as a rural, predominantly agricultural county
FACT: If all proposed solar farms in Caroline County were successfully developed, it would amount to under 2% of county farmland and is likely to represent the majority of solar that is able to be developed in the county in the future due to transmission constraints
Misconception #4: Limiting individual project size or acreage can help reduce viewshed and other impacts from solar farms
FACT: Larger solar farms have fewer neighbors per MW/per acre and fewer site perimeter per MW/per acre
![Page 24: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
PART IIISolar Development Best Practices
![Page 25: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
25
Utility Scale Solar Best Practices ‐ Screening Screening may be appropriate in some cases, such as mitigating impacts to historic structures or other visually‐sensitive receptors
Consists of a “row” of hedges, short trees or naturalized, native plantings to create “green wall”
Cost is not inconsequential, and so usually not applied as blanket approach to entire perimeter
Approaches taken by various states with significant solar growth:
MD PPRP: screening as indicated by local authorities
VA Model Ordinance: not recommended because it may discriminate against solar v. other development
NC Template Ordinance: screening may be encouraged to minimize visual impact
MA Model By‐Law: gives examples of approaches taken by 2 counties
![Page 26: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
26
Typical Solar Farm – Up Close View
![Page 27: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
27
Typical Solar Farm – 100 foot view without screening
![Page 28: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
28
Vegetative Screening ‐ Examples
![Page 29: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
29
Vegetative Screening ‐ Examples
![Page 30: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
30
Vegetative Screening ‐ Examples
![Page 31: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
31
Utility Scale Solar Best Practices ‐ Setbacks Some setbacks are appropriate for aesthetics and to maintain rural character
Commons setbacks for large‐scale solar: 10‐50 feet from public roads and non‐participating property lines (often from equipment, not the fence)
100‐150 feet from non‐participating residences
Important considerations Incorporating the views and opinions of local leaders and the adjacent community
Whether setbacks can be waived (both by project participants and non‐participants)
Whether solar is subject to setbacks not applied to other, more visible uses (e.g., poultry houses)
Unnecessarily large setbacks creates unusable “strips” of productive agricultural land
Approaches taken by various states with significant solar growth: MD PPRP: equipment 50 feet from roads and non‐participating property lines
VA Model Ordinance: setbacks no greater than local building setbacks
NC Template Ordinance: agricultural zone setbacks of 30 feet (front), 15 feet (side) and 25 feet (back)
MA Model By‐Law: setbacks of 10 feet (front), 15 feet (side) and 25 feet (back)
![Page 32: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
32
Utility‐scale Solar Best Practices : Decommissioning At the end of a solar project’s life, which is expected to be between 35 and 40 years, the facility will be decommissioned and the land restored to its original state. Decommissioning proceeds in reverse order of the installation:
1. The PV facility is disconnected from the utility power grid.
2. PV modules are disconnected, collected, and either shipped to another project, salvaged, or submitted to a collection and recycling program.
3. Electrical interconnection and distribution cables are removed and recycled off‐site by an approved recycling facility.
4. PV module support H‐beams and aluminum racking are removed and recycled off‐site by an approved metals recycler.
5. Electrical and electronic devices, including transformers and inverters are removed and recycled off‐site by an approved recycler.
6. Concrete piles used for the inverter blocks are removed and recycled off‐site by a concrete recycler.
7. Fencing is removed and recycled off‐site by an approved recycler.
8. Any interior project roads, typically constructed of 4” aggregate base, can either remain onsite should the landowner choose to retain them, or be removed and the gravel repurposed either on‐ or off‐site.
9. The Project site may be converted to its original condition including revegetation, or to other land uses in accordance with applicable land use regulations in effect at that time of decommissioning. There are no permanent changes to the site.
![Page 33: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/33.jpg)
33
Utility Scale Solar Best Practices ‐ Sound Sound from construction of solar is limited and managed with best practices:
No blasting or rock breaking; little earth‐moving; piles driven to only shallow depths
Construction restricted to daylight hours
Neighbors will hear virtually no sound during operation:
Inverters are not placed close to off‐site receptors
Switchyard often adjacent to existing substation and participating land owners
Approaches taken by various states with significant solar growth:
MD PPRP: comply with state standards (65 dBA‐day; 55 dBA‐night)
VA Model Ordinance: “noise is not expected to be an issue for solar energy projects”
NC Template Ordinance: no sound or noise studies indicated
MA Model By‐Law: solar “produces neither adverse noise impacts nor harmful emissions”
![Page 34: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/34.jpg)
34
Utility Scale Solar Best Practices ‐Agriculture Land is restored to cultivation‐ready at end of project Passive use during operation with little effect on top soil; less pesticide/herbicide use than agricultural
All equipment (unless more than 2‐3 feet below grade) and roads removed
Drain tile repaired
Industry moving toward landscaping supportive of adjacent farms and future re‐cultivation Short, native turf grass as base vegetation under and around panels
Pollinator habitat around perimeter
Economic benefits to project participants and community helps preserve agricultural lifestyle
Only a very small amount of Maryland farm land potentially may be devoted to solar (due to transmission and market constraints). The vast majority of farmland in MD, including farmland adjacent to transmission infrastructure, is not suitable to solar development
In each county, those few acres of farmland that can be used for solar return significantly higher tax revenues to the county, produce far less water discharge/solid waste (essentially none) while requiring no new services of local communities
![Page 35: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/35.jpg)
RESOURCES & ADDITIONAL SLIDES
![Page 36: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/36.jpg)
36
Resources Model Solar Ordinances – Successful solar ordinances balance economic development, property rights, land preservation, and environmental impact interests. Some examples include:
VA DEQ: “Model Ordinance for Larger‐Scale Solar Energy Projects in Virginia”: http://www.deq.virginia.gov/Portals/0/DEQ/RenewableEnergy/LOG/12%2021%202012%20LARGER
%20SCALE%20SOLAR%20model%20ordinance.docx
MA DER: “Model As‐of‐Right Zoning Bylaw: Allowing Use of Large‐Scale Ground‐Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Installations” http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/doer/green‐communities/grant‐program/solar‐model‐bylaw.pdf
NC : “Template Solar Energy Development Ordinance for North Carolina” https://nccleantech.ncsu.edu/technology/renewable‐energy/solar/template‐ordinance‐for‐solar‐
energy‐development‐in‐north‐carolina/
![Page 37: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/37.jpg)
37
Resources End of Project Life
Evaluation of Potential Health and Environmental Impacts from End‐of‐Life Disposal of Photovoltaics
Top Five Large‐Scale Solar Myths https://www.nrel.gov/tech_deployment/state_local_governments/blog/top‐five‐large‐scale‐solar‐
myths “One city manager with numerous solar farms in his community compared the land use to a
cemetery (no living inhabitants), demonstrating that solar farms can be compatible even with residential neighbors.”
Property Taxes Small project tax exemption: http://programs.dsireusa.org/system/program/detail/4853 Large project state tax contacts: Maryland DOAT’s Utility & Railroad Valuation division. Laura
Kittel or Ed Mohan – (410)‐767‐1940
Noise: 2013 report from Argonne National Laboratory concluded that solar farm mechanical noise was
not a significant source of noise for off‐site receptors 2012 study conducted for the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center found that solar farm
operational noise is inaudible at moderate distances. The measured noise levels declined to ambient background noise levels at distances between 50 and 150 feet.
![Page 38: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/38.jpg)
Utility Scale Solar is not a Major Contributor to Ag Land Loss Across MD
80% of Maryland’s solar power is produced from rooftop and distributed solar. If that pattern continues, Maryland’s RPS can be realized with solar on less than 1/10th of 1%of its agricultural land.
Even if 100% of remaining RPS demand were met using farmland, it would require only .41% of Maryland’s agricultural land.
If 2% of Caroline County’s >100k+ acres of farmland were used for solar farming, it would increase County annual property tax revenues by ~15% (not including indirect or induced revenues due to increased economic investment in the County)
![Page 39: Caroline County Solar - Conduit Street · PDF fileCaroline County Solar Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices May 25, 2017](https://reader031.fdocument.pub/reader031/viewer/2022022423/5a9dea847f8b9adb388bd40e/html5/thumbnails/39.jpg)