Solar...OK Let's Get Serious!

The town seems to want to promote solar.  OK so if that is the case then they should get serious with their zoning to accommodate solar properly.  The current Cape Vincent Town solar zoning falls way short in my opinion.

 

For example here are a few issues that should be dealt with.  Solar is not all unicorns, daisies, and butterflies.  There are some important zoning issues.

First the issue of “rights to solar” or sunlight on your property should be addressed in the comp plan and in the zoning law if the town wants to promote solar.

 

The issue of shadows from adjoining properties should be addressed.  For example new structures or new planted vegetation on adjoining property since the solar project was permitted.    They should consider solar easements.

 

What about trees?  BP’s Brookhaven industrial solar project on Long Island removed 153 acres of trees or about 45,000 trees.  Is that wise?  I don’t think so. That is a lot of impact on the habitat.  In CV we have a lot of open grass land but the zoning should address this potential tree removal issue, for large solar or small solar.   Also there should  be studies to determine the impacts on grassland species for large solar arrays.

 

Large commercial solar arrays can take up huge amounts of land.  Once they are constructed that land is dedicated to that use.  Unlike wind turbines where agriculture can still take place under or near turbines. How are agricultural land use and habits going to be protected?

The sun  reflective regulations should be returned to the zoning and studies should be required of the possible impact to adjoining properties, streets, etc.  It was taken out in the new revisions.

There is no language indicating that all power lines on residential or  commercial solar should be underground.

There is no language to prohibit advertising on any solar project.

Solar projects have a lot of interconnected electrical components.  The is no language to protect the public from possible dangerous electrical components, especially in large solar projects, and there is no language about fencing or other protections.

There should be language about screening for large solar arrays, either moderate height vegetation or something appropriate.

In my opinion there should be only roof top solar allowed in the more densely populated residential areas of the lake and river dist. or hamlets, or maybe small ground mounted solar.  Especially near the shore line where scenic preservation issues could arise.  There should setback regulations from the shore lines.  For larger properties in these districts some other accommodation could be outlined.

If we are going to get serious about solar then the zoning should indicate that the planning board should consider that streets in new subdivided areas should have where possible an east west orientation thereby providing the southern exposure for potential solar, and subdivisions should be platted with solar access in mind.

And where is the division between commercial solar and residential on site solar? These issues need to be looked at in more detail.

Often large solar projects need considerable grading of the land.  There are potential erosion issues and well contamination issues that should be addressed.

What about decommissioning, if an array ceases to work or is abandon?  There should be language indicating how soon it should be take down or repaired.  Large commercial projects need to have a decommissioning financial plan, just like industrial wind.

For roof mounted solar there should be some inspection or certification that the roof can support the load.  There should be some thought into snow and ice loads sliding off the panels and where that will end up.  Does it endanger anyone?

For large and small solar systems, is there a system in place to deal with possible complaints from adjacent land owners.

How do you handle solar added to an existing house as an alteration vs. solar integrated into new construction?

What about batteries?  The CV zoning is written with the very narrow idea that PV solar will be used directly in a residence and the excess sold to the grid, or commercial solar is sold directly and only to the grid.  However, some people may want to live independently off the grid.  This may require large banks of batteries which could raise a whole host of zoning safety issues.  Like the proper area for  batteries, and storage in a residence, fire and explosive issues, venting, contamination or proper disposal.  Maybe only a certain type of battery should be allowed. None of this is addressed in the CV zoning revision.

There are numerous issues to consider for solar zoning…these are only some.  There has been a lot of thought put into zoning for wind energy, and by comparison, virtually nothing serious  regarding solar.