The Importance Of Community Involvement In Utility-Scale Solar Project Development
Solar power is at the forefront of the movement to create a net-zero future because the world needs affordable and sustainable renewable energy But there is resistance to every admirable cause. In the case of solar, locals wary about utility-scale solar projects constructed in their areas have been one source of opposition
How can the nation's critical demand for renewable energy be met by the solar industry, in particular utility-scale solar EPCs and project developers, in the face of disinformation and hostility? EPCs and developers need to engage local communities and create wide consensus in order to successfully deal with this backlash
Some Locals Express Concern Regarding Solar Projects
Solar has grown at an unprecedented rate because of the more than 50% decrease in cost of solar systems over the last 10 years Despite this, utility-scale solar adoption has not always been simple. Well-intentioned initiatives have sometimes encountered such criticism that EPCs and developers were forced to scrap their plans.
The projected Battle Born Solar Project in Moapa Valley, Nevada, for instance, would have been the biggest solar farm in the US at the time According to the 850 MW plant's initial
projections, over 2,000 jobs would be created as well as enough renewable energy would be produced throughout the day to power over 500,000 households. However, since locals believed the plant would be an eyesore and obstruct access to the region, developers abandoned the project. The availability of transmission lines also played a role in the decision-making process, adding yet another factor to the already difficult equation of where to locate a new Utility Scale Solar facility.
However, it's not always the case. Locals in Virginia, like those in Nevada, were against the construction of the biggest solar farm east of the Rockies Residents of Spotsylvania County were concerned about everything from cadmium leaks to project cancellation, the degradation of forests, and falling property prices
Due to the developers', EPCs', and utility's educational initiatives, which gave the public access to clear information that allayed fears, the project went forward as anticipated This information included demonstrating that the majority of the solar farm would be hidden by the surrounding forest, that project abandonment would be known well in advance due to the companies' requirement to file a decommissioning plan, that there was little evidence to support claims of falling property values, and that broken panels would not contaminate the groundwater.
Educating Residents to Involve Them
Education initiatives in Virginia were aggressive yet successful. White papers with certain information were presented to the public by stakeholders in order to refute the arguments against solar energy While essential, certain parts of the process were controversial Communities, corporations, and regulators were constantly exchanging arguments. However, the initiative finally resulted in the creation of thousands of employment in this county in Virginia, and the PV system will provide the locality access to renewable energy for many years Solar was aided in this specific battle by education.
This success highlights the need of informing locals about the projects' necessity due to serious shortcomings in their present energy infrastructure and how the proposed project provides a superior alternative
EPCs and developers should collaborate closely with utilities, independent power providers (IPPs), and electrical co-ops to make it simpler for locals to take part in the planning process It may be possible to overcome locals' objections to utility-scale solar projects by including them in the process, educating them on the system's benefits, and paying attention to and taking into account their concerns
