How will the project impact farmland and local agriculture?
Solar development and traditional agricultural 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 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.
Where will the power generated from the project go?
The power from Stark Solar will be delivered into the local Ohio electric grid, helping to diversify the state’s energy portfolio. Power generated by the project will be used both locally and transmitted to where it is needed based on demand.
Will inclement weather damage the panels?
Panels are capable of withstanding harsh weather elements such as hail, torrential rain, and strong winds. Studies, as well as actual catastrophic events such as hurricanes, have shown that solar farms are able to withstand the harsh weather elements.
Are solar panels toxic?
No. Stark Solar 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 material used in computer chips. It is nontoxic and does not pose a risk to public health or safety. When a project is decommissioned, panels can be recycled as well as be disposed in landfills designated for this type of material.
What is the track record of solar farms leaching chemicals into the ground?
The project will use solar panels from manufacturers that have passed the Toxiticy Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TLCP) analysis to demonstrate the panels do not contain characteristics of hazardous waste.
Once solar panels are removed, can the land be used again for agriculture?
Yes. The Stark Solar project will be located on private land under long term lease arrangements and at the end of life of the project, the project 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. After panels are installed, 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 help retain topsoil and improve soil health over time.
What happens to solar panels at the end of their life?
As part of the permitting process, Stark Solar will provide a detailed decommissioning plan and a commitment to implement the same. At the end of the project’s useful life (30 years on average), panels can be removed and recycled or disposed of in a licensed landfill. Up to 90% of the materials used in panels, much of which is glass, are recyclable.
What is the fire risk of a solar project such as this?
The risk of fire in a large-scale solar project is incredibly low. The project contains sensors that are capable of detecting a fire that could be occurring in a specific section of the array. These sensors will immediately notify Operation and Maintenance team members, who then can power off the array. The solar energy facility and its equipment will be operated and monitored to ensure proper safety of the equipment. The Stark Solar Project will have a safety and security plan that details fire protection and related education for local first 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.
What are the Project's Impacts to wildlife?
Impacts to 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 Ohio Department of Natural Resources and United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Small local wildlife will be able to come and go through wildlife friendly fencing, including rabbits and other small mammals as well as turtles and other small reptiles.
What happens when it is cloudy outside?
Even on a cloudy day, solar panels produce between 10% and 25% of their typical output.
Are solar panels noisy?
No, solar panels themselves are completely silent. Certain pieces of equipment on a solar farm, which include invertors, transformers, and motors, do emit a small amount of sound during the day from sunrise to sunset. Transportation and maintenance equipment – including cars, trucks, lawnmowers and string trimmers – are also a common source of noise on solar farms that most people are used to hearing elsewhere. The impact of this sound is negligible because the equipment is strategically placed within the solar layout and is typically distant from the property lines. A noise study will be conducted to ensure that the project operates within applicable noise limits.
What is the regulatory process that Stark Solar must go through to receive approval to build the project?
The Ohio Power Siting Board directs the regulatory process for Solar Projects in the State of Ohio. An overview and links to more information about the process is available on the OPSB Info page of this website.
Will stray voltage be a concern for livestock operations near the project?
No. Large-scale solar projects must follow strict electrical safety codes governing the design, construction, and operation of any project in Ohio. With modern-day underground collection and transmission lines used in the construction of solar farms, stray voltage will not impact neighboring farms.
How well do panels perform in a dusty environment (from farming or other operations)?
While dust can slightly reduce the performance of the panels, it is a minimal reduction and does not materially affect energy production. Panels are also easy to clean and are cleaned by rain, snow, and occasionally by project staff.
How will snow be removed from the panels?
The panels will be tilted approximately 25 degrees and will shed snow once the sun hits the panels and starts to melt the snow on the smooth glass surface. Lighter snow loads allow some sunlight to reach the panels and the small amount of heat generated from energy conversion allows the panels to shed the snow.
What is the impact of the project to local roads?
The project will survey local roads prior to the start of construction and once construction has been completed. Stark Solar will maintain and/or improve local roads as required to support any increase in traffic or weight so that upon project completion the roads will be in the same or better condition as prior to construction.
What is the operating life of a solar farm?
Once operational, a solar farm will typically operate for a 30- to 35-year lifespan.
Will the project emit any greenhouse gases?
No. Solar panels generate clean, renewable electricity and do not emit any greenhouse gases or other 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.
What studies are being done to provide the public with information/data about potential impacts from the construction and operation of the project?
All studies required for the OPSB certificate can be viewed on the OPSB website docket for the Stark Solar project, once the project's application is submitted.
What is solar panel glare?
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. As part of its permitting process, Stark Solar will conduct a Glare Analysis of the project site that will allow project designers to minimize or eliminate solar panel glare on the surrounding residents, businesses, and transportation. In the unlikely event that unreasonable glare is identified, specific modifications to design and/or operation of the panels will be implemented to address the issue.
Do panels impact TV reception?
No. Solar energy facilities do not cause impacts/disruptions to over-the-air (OTA) digital TV reception.
How are landowners compensated?
Landowners enter into a voluntary agreement with the developer to allow for the project to be developed, constructed, and operated on their property for a set period of time. Landowners are compensated based on agreed upon terms set out in the voluntary agreement.
How will the fish habitat be affected in local streams and waterways?
Solar projects are expected to have a positive impact on surface water quality. As row-crop production is being replaced with a source of clean, renewable energy, project land will see a reduction or elimination in tilled acres (erosion) and application of farm chemicals (pesticides and herbicides), leading to a reduction in phosphorous and nitrogen loading on local waterways. Once the project is operational most of the vegetation will be low-growth, native or indigenous grasses and forbs requiring mowing only a few times a year and only targeted chemical applications if needed at all. With this improvement in surface water runoff, the habitat downstream for fish and other aquatic species will likely be healthier than before the project was implemented.
What is the impact to hunting and fishing?
The project will have no impact to hunting and fishing rights on property that is not part of the project.
What is the PILOT program?
In Ohio, individual counties are permitted to use an alternative to the standard property tax assessment on certain renewable energy projects. This alternative, known as a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT), requires the generation facility to provide fixed annual payments to the local taxing authority for the life of the facility. In addition to the benefit of a fixed revenue stream, the local community benefits from a requirement that at least 80% of the workers employed for construction and operation of a solar facility reside in Ohio. Further, in order to qualify for the PILOT, a solar facility developer must guarantee to make certain road repairs, train and equip fire and emergency personnel for responding to emergencies at the facility, and partner with a state university or apprenticeship program for training in the renewable energy industry.
How are aircraft impacted by the addition of solar within the area?
The project must adhere to all Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidelines and will properly site the project with regard to the specific requirements of the FAA. Emergency medical helicopters will continue to adhere to their own aircraft landing protocol.
Are property values impacted by the facility?
Industry studies show that large-scale solar power facilities economically benefit the community and generally do not decrease residential property resale values following proper design and visual/sound mitigation. 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. Additionally, buyers may view the solar facility as a safe, quiet neighbor.
Will the project obstruct wildlife patterns within the project area?
The project will utilize wildlife-friendly fencing which will allow small animals, such as rabbits and reptiles, to go back and forth through the fencing. The project is not being sited on one contiguous square area of fenced ground. Rather, the project will be comprised of several fenced sections of ground connected underground to one another (will be more of a patchwork quilt of sections throughout the total area). Larger animals, such as deer, will be able to traverse through and around the total project area.
How is water run-off and drainage impacted?
Stark Solar will obtain a General Permit for Storm Water Associated with Construction Activities from the Ohio EPA that requires preparation of a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) that specifically addresses runoff both during construction and while the project is operating. In addition, the project will plant 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 impacts in, near, and around the solar site.
Will the project affect the agricultural economy?
Although farmers may be taking ground out of row crop agricultural use so that it may be used for the project, they are also receiving additional income from the new land use type. It is common for participating landowners to participate with a portion of their total ground and continue farming other non-participating acres of ground. It is also typical for participating landowners to continue living locally after the solar facility is constructed, spending income locally, to the benefit of the local economy throughout the life of the project.
Stark Solar 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 has the potential to increase nearby pollinator-impacted foliage and crops.
The project will make a significant financial investment in the seed purchased for ground cover, as well as the components necessary for planned small animal and bird habitats within the array.
Stark is considering the integration of meaningful agriculture within the solar facility, such as sheep grazing. This provides an additional grazing opportunity for local or regional sheep farmers (and another solar-adjacent product, wool).
How will topsoil be impacted?
Solar facilities can be designed to follow the existing contours of the ground; therefore, very little to no grading of topsoil will be required. Excavation and grading is usually limited to the project substation and a few gravel access roads that access inverter locations. The project will be making a very significant investment in native vegetative ground cover seed and will want the best soil beneath the panels for the seeding of this cover. With deep-rooted native vegetation planted underneath the solar panels, the soil will regain nutrients and be restored to a higher quality of soil at the end of the project’s useful life.
Are the fumes from the burning electronics and solar panels toxic?
Fumes from the burning of all man-made (and some naturally occurring) materials have the potential to be toxic. In the rare possibility of a fire occurring on-site, the fumes from the burning equipment could be harmful to breathe in, as would any fumes from a substance or material that has caught fire. However, the Project operations and maintenance team members and local first responders will take appropriate action to ensure the safety of the community.
What chemicals would be required to put out the fire?
The Project will not require the use of any unusual or atypical fire suppressants in the unlikely event of a fire.
What aspects of the wildlife do the studies and surveys focus on?
The focus is on the habitat available to threatened and endangered species. If these habitats exist within the solar Project boundary, it is likely the Project will avoid those areas. Further information regarding impacted wildlife is available through the OPSB.
Who conducts the studies for Stark Solar?
Stark Solar LLC has contracted with Verdantas to conduct and analyze wildlife habitat studies, wetland and waterway delineations, and natural and cultural resources studies for the Stark Project.
Will the results from the studies be available for viewing?
All studies required for the OPSB certificate can be viewed on the OPSB website docket for the Stark Solar project, once the project's application is submitted.
Are the solar panels cleaned?
Solar panels are typically cleaned naturally through rainfall or snow melting from the face of the panels. Operations and maintenance crew members will ensure panels are properly cleaned for efficiency and energy production purposes.
What is the decibel level of the electrical equipment at the fence surrounding the solar plant?
Noise producing equipment at a solar facility is limited to inverters, transformers, motors, and (if utilized) batteries. The Project will be designed to the extent practicable with the sound-producing equipment placed at a distance from project borders.
Are there any studies on how living near a solar panel field can impact someones mental state?
Stark Solar is unaware of any peer-reviewed studies proving any adverse health effects to neighbors of solar farms. The state’s process for permitting also ensures that the Project is safely sited to mitigate any adverse impact to the health of humans.
How long will this project be under construction?
Stark Solar is in the mid stages of development. Upon certification by OPSB, the project will move forward with construction. The construction process is typically 12 to 18 months before site operation.
What equipment is required for construction?
Stark Solar has yet to determine what equipment is necessary for construction, though it is anticipated that typical construction equipment found at energy infrastructure projects will be used. Prior to construction, the community will be aware of the activities that will occur on-site and will receive regular communications from a member of the construction team.
How will roads and bridges in the Project Area be maintained?
During construction, roads and bridges in the project area will be protected from damage caused by construction. If incidental damage does occur that is caused by construction, then roads and/or bridges will be repaired to their current condition or better as part of an agreement that will be executed with the County Engineer. This agreement is typically called a Road Use and Maintenance Agreement (RUMA) and is a typical agreement used for many types of construction projects.
What is typically involved in the decommissioning process of the solar project?
A project-specific Decommissioning Plan will be prepared for the project as part of the OPSB application. Typical decommissioning activities for a solar project include removal of all facility structures; recycling or salvage of as many components as possible including the solar panels, steel racking and electrical cables and inverters and transformers; removal of all gravel access roads, decompaction of any areas where soil compaction may have occurred, and reestablishment of vegetation (unless the landowner determines to till the land for agriculture). The Decommissioning Plan will include a decommissioning cost estimate that is prepared by a Professional Engineer and a performance bond will be posted to cover that cost prior to construction. The Decommissioning Plan will be updated every 5 years to account for changes in costs and technology.
Will this project have an impact on drain tiles?
Stark Solar will complete a survey to identify the location and extent of the existing drainage tile system within the Project Area. To locate tile, a combination of local county maps and resources, aerial imagery review, and maps and photos available from the participating landowners will be used. During design and construction, efforts will be used to avoid impacting the drainage tile mains throughout development, construction, and operations. Additionally, any drain tile system upstream or downstream of, and outside the Project Area, will be protected. If damage occurs, it will be evaluated and be repaired or replaced with functionally equivalent systems dependent upon the extent and impact of damage.