Potential Environmental and Social Impacts of Solar Energy Solar Industry Practices for Environmental Stewardship on Utility-Scale Ground Mounted Projects by Miriam Makyhoun Solar & Renewable Energy Industry Specialist NC Sustainable Energy Association 1

Solar PV Installations: Sources: NC Sustainable Energy Association, NC Utilities Commission Expected Year Online Capacity MW DC Number of Systems Solar PV System Capacity 10 kW or Less Greater than 10 kW through 500 kW Greater than 500 kW TOTAL , Megawatts (MW) of Registered Solar PV Capacity in North Carolina Expected Online from MW produces 218,059 MWh a year—enough to power over 18,000 homes! This equates to the displacement of 163,539 tons of CO 2 equivalent or the planting of 817,695 trees! Sources: Carbonify, National Renewable Energy Laboratory System Advisor Model 2

Market Dynamics The Cost of Solar PC in NC is Dropping NC Actual & Projected Solar Cost $/W Source: NC Utilities Commission; “Levelized Cost of Solar PV in NC, 2012” report by NCSEA 3

Market Dynamics, Part 2 Re-alignment of energy cost dynamics Solar Prices in NC are Dropping NC Actual & Projected Solar Cost (LCOE) Source: NC Utilities Commission; “Levelized Cost of Solar PV in NC, 2012” report by NCSEA Note: Systems of 10 kW or less are assumed to have residential ownership for tax purposes. 4

Social and Environmental Impacts: Partnering with the Community Counties (building and electrical permits) NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources (land and water) NC Department of Transportation (driveways) Economic and Work Force Development and others Community colleges Local contractors Farmers and businesses Source: Strata Solar, Kings Mountain, 5 MW Ground Mounted Solar PV 5

Protecting Waterways: Measures Ensuring the Natural Environment Riparian buffers to intercept surface runoff and subsurface flow of nonpoint source pollution such as nitrogen and phosphorous Log rainfall around site and check for excess turbidity Silt fence/weir around the property to stabilize the land Rock check dam to reduce erosion Source: NC Wildlife Resources Commission 6

Protecting the Land: Measures Ensuring the Natural Environment Native grasses and clover for low- maintenance ground cover Partnering with the Agricultural Extension Offices and using local labor for planting If spraying for weeds, avoiding waterways Double cropping between rows Sheep once a week Rye Grass Fescue GrassDurana Clover White Dutch Clover Native plants help to retain water and soil and stabilize the land, promoting natural and native animals and insect species (e.g. a native quail nests in native grasses) 7

Double Cropping: Piedmont Biofuels & Southern Energy Management Pittsboro, NC From protecting tomatoes from rain (tomatoes do better if only their roots are fed), through shading cooler weather crops like salad and arugula, to providing support for trellises and other crop infrastructure—Sami Grover 8

Livestock: A Symbiotic Relationship at SAS SAS Institute, Cary, NC 9

Protecting the Land Part 2: Measures Ensuring the Natural Environment Geo studies on the soil to determine if it can support pile-driving; using concrete as little as possible (e.g. inverter pads) Disturb as little land as possible Leaves as much existing ground cover as possible Agriculture is known to be more damaging to the soil than solar farms Source: REP Energy 10

Protecting the Land Part 3: Measures Ensuring the Natural Environment Working with the Department of Transportation when a temporary road touches another major road Temporary roads can be plastic laydowns instead of gravel Leave as much existing ground cover as possible Source: 123rf 11

Social Benefits of Solar PV A use for underused or no longer arable land A net tax benefit through taxable infrastructure that does not burden existing infrastructure Job-creation and training/certification in often rural areas It helps farmers: Out of over 7,000 U.S. farms who responded to the 2009 USDA On-Farm Census stating they utilize solar energy, North Carolina had 104 farms with solar, 67 with PV panels; 55 with solar thermal panels It saves businesses and residents money: Over the last decade, utility electricity prices have risen by 3% per year, while the cost of solar PV continues to decrease (30% in North Carolina from 2007—2011, according to the North Carolina Utilities Commission Docket Filings) 12

North Carolina: State of Solar PV Solar PV is an opportunity for individuals, businesses, and the environment! by Miriam Makyhoun Solar & Renewable Energy Industry Specialist NC Sustainable Energy Association x114 13