Benefits & Challenges of Large Scale Solar Development

Benefits:

  • Renewable energy source; increased electrical energy supplied to the utility grid
  • Reduction in carbon footprint; contribution to a cleaner and greener community
  • Host Community Benefit Agreements
  • Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) Agreements with Taxing Jurisdictions (municipal, school and County)
  • Potential resident cost reduction on electric bills
  • Federal and local tax credits for eligible solar projects
  • Supplemental income for leasing landowners
  • Agriculture co-location opportunities
Solar Clip Art3

Challenges & Mitigation Strategies:

(1.) Need to: Minimize Potential Impacts on Prime Farmland/Soils & Natural Resources. 

Site development for solar energy systems may involve on-site natural resources such as prime soils, forested areas, wetlands, waterways, and visual, historic or archeological resources, etc.

Mitigation Strategy:  

Municipalities can utilize Site Plan and Special Use regulations and review processes under SEQR, NYSDEC, USACE and OPRHP. Operations & Maintenance Plans and Decommissioning Plans from the developer can be useful; consider adding requirements for these plan in local regulations.

(3.) Need to: Need to Establish Proper Stormwater Management & Erosion Controls to Minimize 
On-site & Off-site Impacts. 

Residential rooftop solar systems have little to no effects on the direction or flow of water. Large scale ground mounted solar energy systems can alter the discharge of stormwater runoff.

Mitigation Strategy:  

State and Federal rules are in place to regulate. Development is required to comply with the NYSDEC SPDES General Permit for Stormwater Discharges and SWPPP requirements. Vegetative Management Plans from the developer can be useful.

(2.) Need to: Minimize Potential Impacts on Agricultural Land & Operations. 

Large scale solar energy systems can require large tracts of land; less land will be available to farm.

Mitigation Strategy:  

Municipalities can utilize Site Plan and Special Use regulations for solar energy systems to address siting, size, scale, and other conditions for special permit approval.

(4.) Need to: Need to Minimize Construction Impacts Such as Noise, Traffic, Road Use Damage.

Solar panels themselves do not create noise; solar panel tracking systems, inverters, collector substations, and construction activities can generate noise, increased traffic and demands on roads. Once installed, impacts from noise, traffic and road use are anticipated to be minimal.  

Mitigation Strategy:  

Municipalities can utilize Site Plan and Special Use regulations to address mitigations through siting, setbacks, landscaping/buffering/berms, on-site tree retention, and other conditions for special permit approval.  Municipalities can utilize the SEQR review process. Noise studies and road use agreements from the developer can be useful.

(5.) Need to: Need to Minimize Aesthetic & Visual Impacts.

Solar PV panels are designed with anti-reflective coating to increase panel efficiency and reduce the level of reflected light; some solar panel glare can still occur. 

Mitigation Strategy:  

Municipalities can establish Site Plan and Special Use regulations to address mitigations through siting, panel height/orientation, setbacks, landscaping, buffering, and other conditions for special permit approval. Municipalities can utilize the SEQR review process. Noise Glare Analyses from the developer can be required by local law.