Q&A
General | Community | Environment | Local Benefits
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General
1. What is utility-scale solar?
“Utility-scale solar,” “large-scale solar,” and “solar farms” are different terms that describe a solar power facility that generates enough electricity to serve many customers, as opposed to a single home or business. These facilities are typically located on open land and near an existing substation or electric transmission line.
2. Who will use the energy from this solar facility?
Because of the stable, low-cost of solar power and because its operation does not create any emissions, area companies and utilities are very interested in increasing utilization of solar energy. So, not only will the investment be made locally, but Locomotive Solar’s power is expected to be sold locally in Indiana.
3. Why is solar energy being pursued as a source of grid power?
The most important driver behind the growth of solar is the declining cost of solar power technology and installation. The cost of power from a new large-scale solar facility has declined by more than 89% since 2009, to the point where it is cost-competitive today with other sources of new generation. (See Lazard’s Levelized Cost of Energy Analysis , https://www.lazard.com/perspective/levelized-cost-of-energy-levelized-cost-of-storage-and-levelized-cost-of-hydrogen/.)
Coal has traditionally generated the majority of the state’s electric energy and continues to do so. According to the Indiana Office of Energy Development, “As energy resources for electricity are shifting and becoming more diverse, coal continues to maintain the many benefits that are essential for Indiana’s 21st century energy economy.” (See the Indiana Office of Energy Development’s coal fact sheet at https://www.in.gov/oed/about-oed/newsroom/fact-sheets/fuel-facts-coal/.)
However, several older plants are being retired and state utilities and other power users see solar as an important and economical way to meet their power needs, without emitting pollutants. In addition, siting generation locally brings revenue into the state and avoids the need for additional transmission lines.
4. What happens if there is snow on the solar panels?
The Locomotive Solar farm will use single-axis tracking technology, meaning the solar panels will rotate to follow the sun throughout the day. When they are tilted, snow will slide off on its own. If some portion of the panels is covered in snow, the remaining portion can still generate power and, in doing so, will generate some heat that will encourage melting of the rest of the snow.
5. Can solar panels be damaged by harsh winters or natural disasters?
Although panels and mounting racks are designed to withstand snow, ice, high winds and storms, just like any physical structure, they could be damaged by natural disasters. If this were to occur, the project has every incentive to clean up and replace the modular units to restore the generating capacity of the facility. Additionally, the facility will be insured, and a decommissioning fund will be established as required by the Howard County Solar Ordinance.
6. How is the location of a utility-scale solar generating facility selected?
Ranger Power considers several factors in selecting a project location, including:
· Availability of open land that has good exposure to the sun;
· Willingness of local landowners to participate and of the community to host a facility;
· Proximity to existing electric transmission infrastructure that can accommodate the project’s output; and,
· Presence of utilities and other companies in the area interested in buying the power.
The Locomotive site in Howard County meets all of these criteria. In addition, across the Midwest region, the existing transmission infrastructure in the area makes this site especially well-suited for solar energy generation.
7. If ownership of Locomotive Solar changes, will new owners be bound by permitting requirements and other commitments Ranger Power is making?
Yes, all permitting requirements and other commitments such as contracts with landowners and local government bind Locomotive Solar regardless of ownership.
8. What are the panels made of? Are they safe?
The solar panels this project will utilize are slightly larger versions of the type of panels used on homes, schools and businesses for over 20 years. Solar panels have been shown to be safe for disposal in landfills, although panels can also be reused or recycled, as discussed below. The Howard County Solar Ordinance requires that any discarded panels must be disposed of at a site certified for disposal of solar panels and requires that copies of panel Material Safety Data sheets be provided.
Solar panels consist of photovoltaic cells that generate electricity when exposed to sunlight, sandwiched between two high-strength shatterproof glass panels (or a glass panel front with a solid plastic backsheet), with an aluminum frame and wiring. The Environmental Protection Agency tests panels by crushing them into small pieces which are then mixed in an acid bath, after which the fluid is tested for hazardous substances, including heavy metals. Materials that pass this “Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure” may be disposed of in regular municipal landfills and do not pose a threat of contamination.
The confidence displayed in putting solar panels on homes, schools and farms is consistent with the fact that panels have been shown to pose no toxic threat.
Community
1. How much land will the solar farm use?
Locomotive Solar will harvest the sun’s energy on up to 1,700 acres, or less than 1.25% of Howard County farmland. Of that land, panels and equipment will be placed on about a third of the land, with the project area, including under the panels, covered in a prairie-like environment of grasses and pollinators.
2. With solar panels on farmland, Will we run out of land to grow food?
At 1,700 acres, Locomotive Solar would use less than 1.25% of Howard County farmland. If another similarly sized project were built, the two together would use less than 2.5% of Howard County farmland. Use of the land to harvest the sun for energy is consistent with the state’s leadership in ethanol production. If the use of solar energy were to grow to produce 50% of the state’s electricity, it would increase the total land used to harvest the sun for energy from 15% to 16% of the state’s farmed land. (For reference, in 2019, solar produced less than 0.5% of the electric energy in Indiana.)
*See https://www.nass.usda.gov for information on acres farmed; see https://www.epa.gov/egrid/download-data for Indiana net electrical generation and resource mix; see https://inethanol.com/ for information on the amount of the state’s corn crop used for ethanol production.
3. Is the conversion of agricultural land to solar generation permanent?
No. In fact, solar generating facilities like Locomotive will create a sort of land bank of property that is ready for restoration to agricultural use. Solar panels will be mounted on steel posts driven into the ground which will be removed when no longer needed. In addition, grasses and pollinators will grow under and around the rows of panels, similar to some land enrolled in federal Conservation Reserve Program. Removing the solar generating equipment and restoring the land is required by land contracts and is required by Howard County’s Solar Ordinance as well. The design, construction and operation of the facility will facilitate converting land back to farmland, as required by land agreements.
4. Will the facility make noise?
Solar panels make no noise. Motors that turn panels are quiet and will have no perceptible noise at the fence of the facility. The inverters that convert the DC power produced by the panels to transmission-grid compatible AC power make a slight hum when in use during the day but will be sited centrally within the facility. In addition, there will be a transformer located close to the existing Greentown Substation, which will also generate a hum when in use, similar to that of other transformers already at the substation. Overall, depending on wind and other background noise, the noise from the facility will be minimal during daylight hours and even quieter at night when panels are not generating significant electricity.
5. Will solar panels produce glare?
No. Solar PV modules are made to absorb sunlight, not to reflect it. Solar modules are flat, have a relatively smooth surface, and are covered with anti-reflective coatings. In addition, the tracking is designed to avoid situations that can cause glare (by stopping rotation at 30 degrees from vertical and by preventing a situation where the sun would hit panels with a low angle of incidence). As a practical matter, solar projects are often located at or near airports, including at the Indianapolis International Airport, where FAA regulations prohibit glare that could adversely affect pilots.
6. I live nearby and I am concerned that the solar farm will impact my property values
We are confident that Locomotive Solar will be an asset to the community that is of benefit to adjacent properties. First, the project will benefit the area with the reestablishment of a natural environment with significantly reduced chemical inventories, deep-rooted grasses and pollinator species, improved water infiltration and reduced runoff, all accompanying low-profile rows of panels that passively collect the sun’s energy while rotating at speeds slower than the hour-hand on a clock, in a prairie-like setting designed to require little intervention. In addition, the minimum 300-foot setbacks and vegetative buffering/screening from neighboring residences will help ensure that the setting of neighboring properties that have enjoyed farmed land as a neighbor remains open. Ranger Power also will work to reach agreements with neighbors that address particular concerns. These measures and more will help ensure that property values are not adversely affected. No adverse impact is consistent with what we have seen elsewhere. We have spoken informally with tax assessors and real estate agents. We have formally studied and continue to monitor the impact of solar facilities like this one. We have also read materials prepared by others. Even assessing solar projects that do not incorporate such measures to protect neighbors, we have seen no clear link between proximity to a large-scale solar farm and reduction in property value.
Environment
1. Is a solar farm safe for the environment?
Yes, solar energy is one of the lowest impact forms of energy production. Solar generating facilities are low to the ground, do not produce any emissions, are virtually noiseless, and do not create odors or harmful byproducts. Solar panels will not release any toxic or hazardous substances into the environment. In addition, solar panels do not use significant amounts of water during operation, keeping this water available for farming and other activities. (See the response to Question 8, above under “General”, for related information.)
2. What kind of fencing does the project expect to use?
Locomotive Solar will use a 7-8 foot tall woven-wire fence with wooden posts around panel areas. Such a fence is required on the perimeter of the project for safety in accordance with standards set by the National Electrical Safety Code.
(Note: There is one discreet area where voltages will be stepped up to transmission system levels and where more secure fencing is required by code. The project substation, which will be located adjacent to the existing Greentown Substation, will contain a step-up transformer and will be surrounded by cyclone fence with barbed wire, similar to the fencing at the existing Greentown Substation.)
3. What happens if a panel is damaged?
Panels are modular and damaged panels can be quickly replaced. Locomotive Solar anticipates using 24/7 remote monitoring systems that would detect any deficiencies in equipment and notify staff so that problems can be promptly addressed.
Local Benefits
1. How do solar farms benefit participating landowners?
Participating landowners who voluntarily lease their land for a solar farm receive annual lease payments in return. The long-term lease payments are financially attractive, help supplement farm income, and provide a hedge against changing commodity prices for row crops and livestock.
2. How can solar farms benefit community residents?
We are confident that Locomotive Solar will be an asset to the community. First, the project will benefit the area with the reestablishment of a natural environment with significantly reduced chemical inventories, deep-rooted grasses and pollinator species, improved water infiltration and reduced runoff, all accompanying low-profile rows of panels that passively collect the sun’s energy while rotating at speeds slower than the hour hand on a clock, in a prairie-like setting designed to require little intervention. In addition, the minimum 300-foot setbacks from neighboring homes to panels, along with the vegetative buffering or screening that will be employed, will help preserve the rural setting of these homes. Ranger Power also will work to reach agreements with neighbors that address particular concerns. And, the project will be a significant source of new discretionary local tax revenue to support needed services such as schools, roads, and emergency services, as directed by Howard County leadership. Jobs created during construction will bring increased economic activity to the community; once operational, the project will directly employ a small operational staff. These local benefits complement broader environmental benefits of reducing the overall environmental impact of generating power necessary to keep businesses and industry flourishing and homes energized.
