Frequently Asked Questions
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The project is in early development and timelines can change. We currently anticipate the project to start construction in the summer of 2029, following receipt of all required approvals from local, state, and federal regulatory authorities.
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Growing evidence shows that properly planning solar installations can enhance, rather than harm, natural habitats. Well-designed projects support greater biodiversity and avoid sensitive ecosystems. Clēnera prides itself on working with local environmental experts to design, build, and maintain facilities that can preserve or enhance the local ecosystem.
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No. Small increases in temperature can occur above the panels. This increase is dissipated quickly. Read more from a study conducted by Columbia University.
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Modern utility-scale battery energy storage systems are designed, manufactured, and operated under strict safety codes and standards (e.g., International Fire Code, National Fire Protection Association, UL/IEC tests). Safety features include monitoring systems, thermal management, fire suppression systems, and compartmentalization to isolate failures.
These enhancements mean thermal events are vanishingly rare and, in the rare instance a fire breaks out, are often contained to a minimally small footprint.
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Clēnera works with local fire departments and emergency services to provide information about our facilities, develop emergency plans that meet or exceed local standards, and support training needs.
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Construction activity will generate noise. However, once operational, the facility generates almost no intrusive noise. Noise generators on site include small motors to tilt the panels to the sun throughout the day, inverters and power lines that will hum, like old refrigerators, and A/C units on the battery energy storage site.
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PV panels are made up of hundreds of cells. These cells are two sheets of silicon glass semiconductors. When sunlight hits one sheet, it knocks free electrons into the other sheet. This electron is captured as a direct current. Panels tied together deliver a direct current to an inverter, which converts it to alternating current, which is how our power grid delivers energy to end users.
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A recent study from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University found marginal drops in nearby residents are offset by gains of nearby properties. Read the study here.
Several studies from multiple regions have shown solar facilities have little to no impact on property values. Read more here.
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The “lake effect” theory suggests that large solar facilities look like lakes to birds and, subsequently, causes them to crash into the panels.
No evidence has been presented to conclusively support this theory. Alternatively, we have worked with wildlife specialists who surveyed one of our own projects for three years looking for this effect. The result found no evidence for the lake effect.
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Glare would mean sunlight hasn’t been captured to be turned into energy. Modern solar panels are treated with an anti-glare coating to maximize the amount of captured light and further remove glare.
Additionally, the panels are on trackers that follow the sun. The angles created by this constant movement makes stray glare hitting a person on the ground very unlikely.
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TBD
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No. Solar panels are primarily made up of silicon glass, aluminum or steel frames, and glue. No credible evidence has been found of leeching from panels.
Modern battery containers have significantly improved safety designs. It is unlikely to have a cell rupture, and unlikelier still to have the battery components leech out of the container.
Transitioning
Timberland to
Solar Fields
A common concern we hear is that changing land use from commercial timber to utility-scale solar facilities is a net negative for the community.
We understand this concern and think there are important factors and contexts to consider.
| Commercial Timber | Utility Solar | |
|---|---|---|
| Land Disturbance |
Periodic Clearcutting | One-Time |
| Heavy Equipment | Repeated Each Rotation | During Construction |
| Chemical Use |
Herbicides, Fertilizers | Glyphosate-Free Vegetation Management |
| Traffic | Recurring Timber Hauling | Heavy in Construction, Minimal in Operational |
| Noise | Chainsaws and Heavy Equipment | Near Silent Operations |
| Duration | Indefinite Ongoing Cycles | 30-40 Year Lifespan |