Solar energy is expected to be the leading source of new utility-scale electric generating capacity in the United States in 2016, according to the Energy Information Association - and Danville Utilities is trying to join that trend.

Danville Utilities - the supplier of electricity in Danville and southern Pittsylvania County - wants to be the sole customer of a 6 megawatt solar power project by Colorado developer TurningPoint Energy in Ringgold.

At a recent community meeting, the people in attendance were deeply concerned about the effects on the community.

TurningPoint Energy wants to purchase 76 acres at the intersection of Kentuck and Kentuck Church roads, where it would place approximately 1,300 solar panels. The land, which used to host a soybean farm, is located directly between Dan River elementary and high schools, and also connects to several pieces of private property. This location was chosen due to the availability of the land - and the proximity to a Danville Power & Light electric substation.

How they work

Solar energy has been used for decades. The first practical photovoltaic (PV) cell was developed in 1954 by Bell Telephone researchers who were examining the sensitivity of a properly prepared silicon wafer to sunlight. A few years later, PV cells were used to power space satellites. Since then, more than a million solar energy projects have been installed across the United States.

"PV cells change sunlight directly into electricity. Individual PV cells are grouped into panels and arrays of panels that can be used in a variety of applications ranging from single small cells that charge calculator and watch batteries, to systems that power single homes, to large power plants covering many acres," according to the EIA website. "The number of PV modules connected together in a PV array determines the total amount of electricity that the array can generate."

At a neighborhood meeting Monday night, there were many concerns from Ringgold residents about the safety and usefulness of putting solar panels in the area.

The panels planned for this project are "72 cell polycrystalline solar panels that have anti-reflective coating for high sunlight absorption" according to
Jared Schoch from TurningPoint Energy. Even though only 1.5 percent of Danville Utilities' power would be used here, it would save the utility money, as well as cut down on its carbon footprint.

"By transitioning this 1.5 percent of Danville Utility's load to solar, it reduces carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 9,380 tons annually. That is the equivalent to taking 1,137 cars off the road or planting 7,000 trees. That improves the quality of the air and environmental in and around the area and for all that live in and around Pittsylvania County," said Schoch. "This 6MW project will power as much as 1,500 homes per year and directly support the electricity needs of the 4,000 customers in the neighborhoods and community around the solar project site and Danville Utilities electric substation."

Many concerns voiced

Many residents at the neighborhood meeting on Monday were concerned about radiation and pollution from the installation of these solar panels.

According to the EIA, using PV cells to convert solar energy does not produce air or water pollution, or greenhouse gases, although there is the possibility of negative effects on the environment from use of toxic materials, such as hydrochloric acid, hydrogen fluoride and acetone, to create PV cells.

In a study presented to the California Energy Commission, Tetra Tech said that, "At sites with installed PV modules, release of trace elements from sealed modules is unlikely except due to explosion or fire. Leaching of trace metals from modules is not likely to present a significant risk due to the sealed nature of the installed cells and the plan for recycling of spent modules in the future."

According to the Solar Foundation, nearly 4,000 schools across the country have solar panels attached.

One such school is the Leonard A. Gereau Center for Applied Technology and Career Exploration in
Rocky Mount, which powers their entire Center for Energy Efficient Design building with the solar panels and wind turbines they have, with some energy leftover sold back to Appalachian Power. They also use their renewable energy technology to teach students and the community about how it all works.

Similar learning opportunities could go into place with the schools in Pittsylvania County, according to the email that was sent out to attendees of the meeting.

"We will work with [Pittsylvania County Schools] to fund scholarship opportunities and allow the schools to take students on a tour of the site at least once a year for educational purposes. We also remain open to help the schools if they approach us formally with interest in connecting the middle and high school properties together with unused property swap, sale or easement (as long as it does not impact our project design, operation, or setback requirements)."

What kind of fence?

Others were concerned about the lack of visual appeal of the fence that was proposed to go around the solar farm.

"We took this feedback seriously and want to support the idea," Schoch responded "We plan to propose a visual buffer, consisting of evergreen plantings, around those portions of the site where existing vegetation will not remain and that would be visible to the neighbors, schools and to the road. The buffer would be in front of the fence so that once the evergreen plant is grown, it will cover up the majority of the fence for neighbors and drivers from the road."

He also said while trees would probably be cut down during the construction process, they will replace any perimeter trees with the evergreen buffer, so the view will not really be lost.

The idea that the company would not pay taxes on the property were inaccurate; "the solar project will pay a partial sales and use tax as required per state code as well as property tax on the real estate portion of the property. This may include the foundations the solar array sits on per our analysis thus far. This may as much as double the tax revenue gained by the county compared to what it is gaining for the current use."

While the facility itself will be unmanned, TurningPoint Energy estimates that the project will include 75 to 100 short-term jobs before the project is completed.

The team responded, saying "we will work with Pittsylvania County's economic development department to target and procure as much local construction contractor labor and material as is practical, competitive and within our budget to deliver the project to Danville Utilities and to target and utilize local hotels, restaurants and related community infrastructure as appropriate to maximize community revenue value for the construction project."

 

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