Anyone live near a solar Farm?

[gsganzer]

Related to my previous question about a wind farm. It's looking more and more probable that the wind farm project might only be a solar project. In fact, they've already broken ground on Twelve Mile 1, 2 and 3. Twelve Mile fact sheet

The place I'm looking at is on Hwy 22, just south west of the upper project (Twelve Mile 3). Neither 1, 2, 3 can be seen from the property I'm looking at. But are in close proximity.

They're in the planning stages for 4 and I'm trying to find some details and map for that one.

 

[paulsharvey]

Related to my previous question about a wind farm. It's looking more and more probable that the wind farm project might only be a solar project. In fact, they've already broken ground on Twelve Mile 1, 2 and 3. Twelve Mile fact sheet

The place I'm looking at is on Hwy 22, just south west of the upper project (Twelve Mile 3). Neither 1, 2, 3 can be seen from the property I'm looking at. But are in close proximity.

They're in the planning stages for 4 and I'm trying to find some details and map for that one.

How near are we talking? I have lived within maybe 3 miles, as the crow flies too one, and currently I'm probably 6 miles, as crow flies.

Is the concern the finished product or the construction? The construction is intensive, lot of earth work, thousands of foundations, then gravel, and access routes and fencing. Once done, its basically 2 or 3 guys 1/month herbicide spraying, and mowing. Now, im guessing every 15 years you have a moderate rehab job. The build is often 18 months; im guessing a major rehab is 6 months?

Edit: there are upsides; they will likely upgrade any poor quality dirt roads to atleast stabalized roads for cranes/deliveries, ect. Yeah, it will be a bit dusty, but they generally run water trucks on the site and roads to keep dust down. Erosion and such; power companies around here are hyper focused on environmental, to the point of being over the top.

 

[paulsharvey]

So, FPL, Florida Power and Light, does fence their solar farms, but they dont general hide them with plantings or landscape buffers. Some others may, idk. Once they are in, you drive by them, but dont even notice/think about them after a few months.

 

[sandman2234]

I see signs in some areas that "say no to commercial solar farms". Most of that is being driven by people opposed to using good farm land for solar, and in huge chunks! I have not heard of an issue from living close to a solar farm, but I am sure there is a slight issue, just like living too near high tension power lines. Some say it doesn't hurt anything, but I tend to live a little further than right next to one. The power coming out of the solar field would worry me more than the panels.
David from jax

 

[rontaki]

I worry that we might overload the Sun. Does anyone know where the breaker or fuse is, and how to reset or replace it?

 

[paulsharvey]

I worry that we might overload the Sun. Does anyone know where the breaker or fuse is, and how to reset or replace it?

Well, it takes a good 18 months to build one, and it is a heavy construction project. So, if you are within a mile, you will have issues for that time. Also, directly butting up to a large solar farm, id rather not.

However, the solar farm is much less intrusive than an actual peanut or cotton farm, after its built. While its building, its not so far off from any otherlarge commercial building project

 

[Fixastuff]

I worry that we might overload the Sun. Does anyone know where the breaker or fuse is, and how to reset or replace it?

You should be worried about the oil powered gravity generator at the center of the earth running out. That’s why I always pour my old engine oil back into my well!

 

[D&D]

I see signs in some areas that "say no to commercial solar farms". Most of that is being driven by people opposed to using good farm land for solar, and in huge chunks! I have not heard of an issue from living close to a solar farm, but I am sure there is a slight issue, just like living too near high tension power lines. Some say it doesn't hurt anything, but I tend to live a little further than right next to one. The power coming out of the solar field would worry me more than the panels.
David from jax

Yea, we tried that. Very strong community opposition. The state dept of environment said no too, somehow though, it got built.

 

[4get gto]

We have 40-50 acre field beside our house and there was once talk about a solar field being built there. The acreage is currently being used for corn or soybeans.
The land is in no land preservation so you know at some point it will be sold off to someone at a very inflated price.
Prime land for housing.
So if I was given a choice would I want to live next to a solar farm or have 30-40 new neighbors and a housing development. ?

 

[gsganzer]

We have 40-50 acre field beside our house and there was once talk about a solar field being built there. The acreage is currently being used for corn or soybeans.
The land is in no land preservation so you know at some point it will be sold off to someone at a very inflated price.
Prime land for housing.
So if I was given a choice would I want to live next to a solar farm or have 30-40 new neighbors and a housing development. ?

Agree, at least you know what's next to you. There's actually a benefit to the nearby fields not getting plowed a couple of times a year. Where we live now, when the rancher plows, all of our stuff gets covered in dust.
I learned of another proposed solar farm being built in the same area by Nextera, scheduled for completion in 2027. With the various solar farms and the extensive land lease agreements, I feel like I'll be doing mental gymnastics every time there are modifications, expansions, utilities/infrastructure notices to figure out how it would impact our place. That's no way to enjoy a piece of property.

I'm letting it marinate a bit more to see what else I can learn on Monday, but I've drafted a letter of decline to the realtor.

 

[rontaki]

You should be worried about the oil powered gravity generator at the center of the earth running out. That’s why I always pour my old engine oil back into my well!

Not to worry! We'll convert it to run on electricity provided by underground solar panels.

 

[hayden]

I take it there is no zoning in the area? That's usually what keeps solar farms and other industry separated from residential, but I know many people object to zoning.

 

[paulsharvey]

I take it there is no zoning in the area? That's usually what keeps solar farms and other industry separated from residential, but I know many people object to zoning.

Dont quote me on this, but I believe solar farms are allowed in Ag zoning.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

I hear all of these people commenting on solar replacing agricultural land and I get it, food insecurity and rising food prices is not something we need more of. But to be honest it seem like there is plenty of land that is not being farmed out there right now. As I drove from TN to Colorado this summer it was a bit alarming the amount of farmland that was not in production through the prime Ag regions of Kentucky, Illinois and Missouri. I was very surprised at the amount of fallow land there was this summer.

 

[paulsharvey]

So, in Florida, a solar farm is no different from any other farm. Local ordinances may require set backs or landscape buffers; but those can't be strict than any other farm activities. Honestly, it kinda makes sense; how's a panel different than an orange or pine tree? It might not be pretty, but neither is a chicken house; and i can tell you, id rather live 200 ft from a solar field than a chicken house....

Also, given the choice, I would rather be next to a solar field than a wind farm

 

[paulsharvey]

I hear all of these people commenting on solar replacing agricultural land and I get it, food insecurity and rising food prices is not something we need more of. But to be honest it seem like there is plenty of land that is not being farmed out there right now. As I drove from TN to Colorado this summer it was a bit alarming the amount of farmland that was not in production through the prime Ag regions of Kentucky, Illinois and Missouri. I was very surprised at the amount of fallow land there was this summer.

So, I think people have good intentions, but... solar absorbing some marginal ag lands isn't bad. Farms rely on land prices to back their loans, which are required to operate, expand, improve, modernize. There is no food shortage, and honestly, we over produce. Food prices are largely not tied to a production problem.

Someone up above mentioned wishing it was out into a conservative easement (or maybe im thinking of a local fight about a music park?), but for a local economy and also the county government; conservative easement is terrible. It adds no value, takes land out of production/circulation/tax revenue, Forever.

From a macro economics point of view; the solar farm is producing a commodity; the is used locally. It's built using labor, which needs housed/feed. It does use less labor than the farm after built, and less inputs. Also, yes, much of the material is imported, but.

 

[LouNY]

These damned solar farms are waste of money, TAXPAYER MONEY. Not a single one of them would proceed without major tax incentives. They are not a reliable and consistent power generation. The removal and cleanup when they fail to produce as promised is going to be problematic and expensive. The power generated is seldom used in the vicinity of the production but transported via the infrastructure to larger population centers. Which is were it should be generated, all these parking lots and roof tops were the power is going to be used, is where it should be generated. Nuclear power is a much more viable and reliable power then solar for large scale production. All this wind and solar is just wasteful of resources.

 

[paulsharvey]

I did a quick AI query; and Solar produces between $6000-28000 per acre per year, with a normal number closer to $15-21k. Peanuts produce $600-1350 gross per year, with a more normal number of $800-1200.

If we run it with pulp wood pine plantation, its even worse.

 

[paulsharvey]

These damned solar farms are waste of money, TAXPAYER MONEY. Not a single one of them would proceed without major tax incentives. They are not a reliable and consistent power generation. The removal and cleanup when they fail to produce as promised is going to be problematic and expensive. The power generated is seldom used in the vicinity of the production but transported via the infrastructure to larger population centers. Which is were it should be generated, all these parking lots and roof tops were the power is going to be used, is where it should be generated. Nuclear power is a much more viable and reliable power then solar for large scale production. All this wind and solar is just wasteful of resources.

Cost to remove? What, $5/ton, $15/ton, $25/ton? What's the cost to remove pine stumps, and haul them to a C&D dump?

On the tax funded, I did a quick search, and couldn't find any real numbers, but yes, they do get tax credits.

I have talked to a FPL engineer about the solar farms, and per him, its not great, its not terrible, from a $ standpoint point; its largely about speed to place into production. A new power plant is going to take a min of 5 years to design/permit; and 5 years to construct. So, min 10 years; a solar farm can be planned and permitted in 6 months, built in 18 months, and in production at 2 years.

What's the land impact of extending a 36" HP gas main to a new thermal plant? Not saying its more, (or less), but there is one. No free lunch.

 

[paulsharvey]

Local thermal plant is 650 MW plant, used to 1300, but they shut one generator down, and converted other to NG. In theory, thats about 3500-6500 acres of solar farms. Yep, fairly large, but thats only 10 square miles. How much unproductive lands does the county have? Probably a lot. I did a search, and we have 84,000 acres in active ag production, in my county. So, there is worse things than a small-medium farmer selling 640 acres to go into solar, as his retirement.

It's NOT a replacement, but its a supplement.