This location was chosen to reduce the impact on the immediate community as much as possible while also capitalizing on the necessary transmission line and substation which are required to develop and construct such a project. Being located near an existing high-voltage transmission line, there is no need to construct a new transmission line. And, strategically located on an active timber tract, the site would be cleared regardless of this project, but with this project, approximately 75 feet of existing, mature timber will be preserved around the perimeter of the project site.

Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels are composed of mono-crystalline solar cells confined between glass with a metal frame. The silicon, glass, and metal framing used in manufacturing solar panels are non-toxic. The interior components of a PV solar panel consist of solidified materials that won't ever leak liquid or gaseous materials into their surroundings, causing no harm to humans or the environment. According to the Institute of Sustainable Futures, the typical crystalline silicon solar panel is made of about 76% glass, 10% plastic polymer, 8% aluminum, 5% silicon, 1% copper, and other metals. Considering the efficiency, cost, and, just as notably, the environmental impacts, Hodson Energy is constantly assessing the best-in-class modules available on the market.

Are solar panels safe?

The impacts of solar panels have been under study since the 1950s. Solar panels are not dangerous; but rather, they are innocuous. The panels are made of silicon and a protective layer of glass that prevents human exposure. To learn more, see the NC Clean Energy white paper on the Health and Safety Impacts of Solar Photovoltaics here: https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/health-and-safety-impacts-of-solar-photovoltaics

Does the solar array make noise?

The only equipment on-site that produces noise are the inverters, which are sited internally - away from the fence line. Inverters convert DC power to AC power and have mechanical parts and a fan to keep them cool. When operating (only in the daytime), they can produce sound rated at 56 dB, the equivalent sound rating of a normal conversation. The inverters are quieter than outdoor air conditioning units rated at over 60 dB. At a distance of 50’ from the inverter, the sound rating falls to less than 30dB, the background noise level in a rural area.

Solar panels are designed to absorb light, not reflect it. Like any surface, the sun must be at a very low angle to the panel to produce glare. Trackers follow the sun so that the sun hits the panels as directly as possible, reducing the chances of glare. Solar projects are on a host of public airports and military airbases because the FAA and military are comfortable with the anti-glare technology on all utility-scale solar panels.

Solar projects have a little negative impact compared to other utility-scale power generation forms.

-No transportation of liquid or physical fuels.

-No requirement for storage or disposal of physical or liquid fuels

-No onsite combustion or emissions.

-Do not utilize water or emit point-source pollutants into waterways

-Do not permanently or substantially alter soils, drainage, or native fauna.

-Native plants grown under the panels help stop soil erosion and recharge groundwater.

-Design of the panels promotes regenerating soil conditions and making them pollinator-friendly.

Solar projects have a minimal physical impact on land, primarily limited to installing underground cabling and holes to support the racks for the panels. Both impacts are reversed easily when the project is decommissioned, making it easy to return the land to agricultural use if desired. Importantly, hosting a solar project gives the land a chance to rest and restore soil quality, and stable vegetation can help reduce runoff and improve local water quality.

Moreover, with the use of pollinators, Arvonia Solar will promote the regeneration of the soil.

The goal is to leave the land in a better condition than present and protect the viewshed to the best of our ability. With the Project sited on a timber tract, Arvonia Solar has already committed to protecting at least a 75-foot buffer of the existing mature timber around the Project's perimeter.

When designing this Project, we will incorporate native vegetation and local grasses that will work to restore the soil's native state. At the end of the Project, we will thoughtfully remove all materials for salvage and recycling, and the land can begin its next journey, rejuvenated to its natural condition.

Using just over 1/2 the available land under control, Arvonia Solar will maintain large wildlife corridors throughout the site, thus allowing wildlife to exist in harmony with the Project and continue their normal migratory patterns. In addition, the Project must setback from all wetlands, enabling wildlife access to essential water features.

Arvonia Solar will maintain and protect the leased land during the life of the Project, after which it will revert to the owner’s control and be available again for traditional farming after the full decommissioning of the site. Solar development and traditional agriculture can co-exist side-by-side and increasingly are found together. Responsible solar development benefits agriculture and local ecosystems by improving soil health over time, increasing biodiversity, retaining water and topsoil with deep-rooted vegetation, and nurturing native pollinators that support local food production.

Research has shown that properties close to solar projects experience no negative impact on property value. Studies show that solar has a positive effect on property value in some cases. According to the Solar Energies Industries Association (SEIA), proximity to solar farms does not impact the sale of residential or agricultural properties.

Additionally, solar projects require very few public services, such as schools and roads, meaning that the tax contribution of Arvonia Solar can be expected to provide a net economic benefit to the county.

Arvonia Solar will provide a detailed decommissioning plan and a commitment to post a bond for the entire cost to remove and decommission the Project as part of the permitting process. This surety bond will be held in escrow by the County over the term of the Project. A licensed VA engineer will revisit it every five years to ensure the amount is appropriate for removal and decommissioning. At the end of the Project’s useful life (35-40 years on average), panels can be removed and recycled. Up to 90% of the materials used in panels, including glass and aluminum, are recyclable.