Question 1

How will the project impact farmland and local agriculture?

Accepted Answer

Solar development and traditional agriculture can co-exist side-by-side, and increasingly are found together. Responsible solar development provides benefits to both agriculture and ecosystems by improving soil health, retaining water, nurturing native species, and supporting native pollinators which support local food production. In addition, solar farms help farmers and landowners diversify their income by providing a reliable, drought-resistant revenue stream. This steady income means that farmers are less vulnerable to fluctuations in market prices on their products, uncertain trade regimes, and volatile annual weather, thus helping farmers stay in business. Additionally, at the end of its useful life the project will be decommissioned, and the land will be available for all future potential uses, including traditional agriculture.

Question 2

How will the power from Solar Prairie impact supply and demand locally?

Accepted Answer

The power from Solar Prairie will be interconnected locally in Indiana, helping to diversify the state’s energy portfolio while adding needed energy and capacity. Increasing energy supply to the grid will help place downward pressure on power prices and local generation helps attract local demand.

Question 3

Will inclement weather damage the panels?

Accepted Answer

Panels can withstand harsh weather elements like hail, torrential rain, and strong winds. Studies, as well as a real-life catastrophic events such as hurricanes, have shown that the solar farms are able to withstand the harsh weather elements, including the sometimes cold, snowy weather of the Midwest.

Question 4

Are solar panels toxic?

Accepted Answer

No. Solar Prairie will utilize monocrystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, which account for over 90% of solar PV panels installed today. These panels use a crystalline lattice of silicon atoms to convert sunlight into electricity. Silicon is the second-most abundant material on Earth (after oxygen) and the most common semiconductor used in computer chips. It is nontoxic and does not pose a risk to public health or safety. When a project is decommissioned, panels are often recycled. Anything not recycled is removed and disposed of in designated places.

Question 5

Do solar panels leach chemicals into the ground?

Accepted Answer

PV solar panels are designed and built with solid, non-toxic materials confined between glass and a metal frame. When operated as intended, or in the rare instance when they fail or are damaged, they do not leach chemicals into the ground.

Question 6

Once solar panels are removed; can the land be used again for agriculture?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Solar Prairie project will be on private land under long-term lease arrangements. At the end of the project's life, it will be decommissioned, and the land will be available again for farming. This is in stark contrast to other developments, such as commercial or industrial building projects, which often leave land unusable for agriculture again. During construction, native vegetation – often friendly to bees and other pollinators – will be planted. The deep roots of native vegetation retain more water than turf grass during heavy storms and periods of drought. They also retain topsoil and improve soil health over time.

Question 7

What happens to solar panels at the end of their life?

Accepted Answer

As part of the permitting process, Solar Prairie will provide a detailed decommissioning plan and a commitment to implement the same. At the end of the project’s operating life (35 years or more), panels can be removed and recycled or disposed of in accordance with industry standard methods. Up to 90% of the materials used in panels, much of which is glass, are recyclable.

Question 8

What is the fire risk of a solar and storage project?

Accepted Answer

The risk of fire in a large-scale solar and storage project is incredibly low. The project contains sensors that can detect a fire that could be occurring in a specific section of the array or battery module. These sensors will immediately notify Operation and Maintenance team members, who then can power off the array. The facility will be operated and monitored to ensure proper safety of the equipment. The Solar Prairie project will have a safety and security plan that details fire protection and related education for local fire responders. The project will work with local fire and EMS departments to ensure their thorough understanding of the project’s low fire risk and proper response actions.

Question 9

Will the Solar Prairie project impact wildlife?

Accepted Answer

Impacts on local wildlife are expected to be minimal. Project environmental experts have been assessing the project footprint by conducting site-specific studies to understand and mitigate potential impacts on wildlife. The project will comply with all state and federal regulations associated with wildlife including requirements of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Small local wildlife will be able to come and go through wildlife-friendly fencing, including rabbits and other small mammals, turtles and other small reptiles.

Question 10

What happens when it is cloudy outside?

Accepted Answer

Even on a cloudy day, solar panels produce between a percentage of their typical output. Advanced tracking systems also enable solar panels to follow the sun throughout the day and maximize the amount of electricity generated.

Question 11

Will stray voltage be a concern for livestock operations near the project?

Accepted Answer

No. Large-scale solar projects must follow strict electrical safety codes governing the design, construction, and operation of any project in Indiana. With modern-day underground collection and transmission lines used in the construction of solar farms, stray voltage will not impact neighboring farms. On-site project staff will oversee the day-to-day operations of the solar farm to assure the site continues to follow all applicable codes and regulations.

Question 12

What is the impact of the project to local roads?

Accepted Answer

As part of our Economic Development Agreement with the County, we are required to maintain and/or improve local roads. The project will survey the roads before construction starts and once it is completed. We will repair all impacted roads upon project completion, ensuring they will be in the same or better condition as prior to construction.

Question 13

Will the project emit any air pollution?

Accepted Answer

No. Solar panels generate clean, renewable electricity and do not emit any harmful emissions. This distinguishes solar energy from carbon-based electric generation, where carbon dioxide and other air pollutants are emitted as a biproduct of the generation process.

Question 14

Do solar panels create glare?

Accepted Answer

Solar panels are designed to ensure minimal reflection as any reflected light is lost energy; therefore, the panels are designed with anti-reflective coating to absorb the maximum amount of light. However, solar panel glare occasionally occurs when an observer sees a direct reflection of the sun caused by a reflection from the surface of a solar panel. Solar Prairie will minimize or eliminate solar panel glare on the surrounding residents, businesses, and transportation. Further, the project will utilize single axis trackers, which allow the panels to track the sun as it moves across the sky and keep the panels at a right angle to the sun, minimizing the potential for glare.

Question 15

Are property values impacted by the facility?

Accepted Answer

According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), large-scale solar arrays often have no measurable impact on the value of adjacent properties, and in some cases may even have positive effects. The increase in tax revenue generated by the facility typically leads to stronger school funding, levelized taxes, the potential for better roads, stabilized funding for emergency services, and more.

Question 16

How is water run-off and drainage impacted?

Accepted Answer

Solar Prairie will cooperate with all relevant agencies regarding runoff during construction and while the project is operating. In addition, the project plans to incorporate deep-rooted native vegetation beneath the solar panels and throughout the project footprint. Establishing native vegetation throughout the array will allow the ground to rest and build nutrient-rich soil. The well-rested, nutrient-filled soil will also help with erosion control and water runoff in, near, and around the solar site.

Question 17

Will the project affect the agricultural economy?

Accepted Answer

a. Although farmers may be taking ground out of row crop agricultural use for the project, they are receiving additional income from the new land use. It is common for participating landowners to lease a portion of their total ground and continue farming on other non-participating acres. It is also typical for participating landowners to continue living locally after the solar facility is constructed, spending income in the local economy throughout the project's life.

b. Solar Prairie will be utilizing a vegetative management plan that incorporates pollinator-friendly habitats and deep-rooted native vegetative ground cover throughout the project footprint. The additional pollinator-friendly habitat can increase nearby pollinator-impacted foliage and crops.

Question 18

Are the solar panels cleaned?

Accepted Answer

Solar panels are cleaned naturally through rainfall or snow melting from the face of the panels. The operations crew members will ensure panels are properly cleaned for efficiency and energy production purposes.

Question 19

What is typically involved in the decommissioning process of the solar plant?

Accepted Answer

As part of Solar Prairie’s agreements with landowners and Sullivan County, the Project will be responsible for the removal of all equipment from leased land at the end of the Project’s useful life. The removal of equipment and restoration of the host site is referred to as ‘decommissioning’. A Decommissioning Plan will be submitted that details the responsibility of the Project to remove equipment and return land to a similar state as was present before the Project was constructed. As part of the Decommissioning Plan, the Project will agree to post a bond or similar financial surety to ensure the funds necessary to decommission are consistently available throughout the life of the Project; this bond provides a financial guarantee that the Project will bear the cost to decommission and that host landowners (with whom the Project has leased ground for this temporary land-use purpose) and/or host communities will not be responsible for any costs. The decommissioning bond remains in effect for the life of the Project regardless of any ownership transfer and/or in the highly unlikely circumstance of bankruptcy.

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