Where is Winner Solar located?
The project is in north central Pennsylvania in the Southwest corner of Clinton County within both East Keating and West Keating Townships.
What is the timeline for Winner Solar’s development?
What will Winner Solar look like?
Winner Solar plans to use bifacial photovoltaic panels on single-axis trackers. These panels will be gathered in clusters on private, voluntarily leased land in Clinton County. The panels and racking structures are typically no taller than 17 feet at a maximum tilt of 60 degrees, and the inverters will stand approximately 7 feet tall. The entire project will be surrounded by a fence, as required by the Federal Energy Regulation Commission (FERC).
What is the footprint of the project?
The project is located on privately-owned land, totaling approximately 4,413 acres. The final acreage of the project will depend on the results of NYISO Class Year Studies.
How much power will the project generate?
Winner Solar will have the capacity to produce approximately 120 MW of clean renewable electricity. That means Winner solar will produce about 262,500 MWh of energy per year, which is enough to power over 23,000 average U.S. homes.
Will the perimeter be fenced? If so, with what type of barrier?
Yes. We plan to use chain-link galvanized steel wire that is six feet high, with an additional foot of security wire. The security wire specifications can vary between a flat overhang, barbed, or razor.
What is the zoning in Clinton County for this land use?
The project is located on parcels within the Rural Forest District in both East and West Keating Townships. According to the Clinton County Zoning Officer, solar energy production facilities are not a listed use in any zoning district under the County Zoning Ordinance, so Apex is required to request a special exception zoning approval from the Clinton County Zoning Board. Apex requested and received an approval on January 15, 2021. Since the previous written letter authorization for special exception from the Clinton County Zoning Board was prepared under a previous iteration of the proposed footprint of the project, Apex plans to request an amendment/new authorization to capture the additional parcels added to the project boundary footprint. The purpose of adding additional leased parcels to the project boundary is to accommodate more flexibility in design and siting of fenced solar arrays to avoid and minimize impacts to sensitive resources to the greatest extent practicable.
Will the project require approval from East and West Keating Townships?
The Project is in both East Keating and West Keating Townships – which are both subject to the Clinton County Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALDO), rather than any local township ordinances. The County SALDO establishes requirements for how any land development will occur within the applicable townships in the County, including supporting amenities for development like driveways, roads, signage, utilities, buildings/equipment placement, etc.
Apex will be required to obtain land development approvals from the County, which is subject to approval by the Planning Commission. Section 513 of the County SALDO Ordinance provides that the Planning Commission will require a stormwater management plan to be submitted with all land development proposals and may require review by the Clinton County Conservation District (CCCD) and/or Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) and must meet minimum requirements suggested by the CCCD.
Additionally, Section 612 of the Clinton County Zoning Ordinance requires submission of an Erosion & Sedimentation (E&S) Control plan, pursuant to Act 167. Under this provision of the ordinance, all earth disturbance of greater than 5,000 square feet must be submitted to the Clinton County Zoning Officer for review and approval.
Winner Solar project will abide by the County noise regulations set forth in Section 613 of the Zoning Ordinance. Additional state and federal permit authorizations are expected.
How will Winner Solar impact the local economy?
We expect to spend $200 million in the development of Winner Solar. Fifteen percent (15%) of these expenditures (about $30 million) are expected to directly benefit Clinton County, in the form of jobs and local spending. Similarly sized projects in Pennsylvania have created up to 300 full-time-equivalent jobs during construction and provided annual property tax payments around $250,000 to $300,000 per year for the 40 year life of the project.
In addition to these direct contributions, the project will also generate indirect economic benefits as workers and landowners spend these dollars at local businesses and on securing local services. Beyond the dollars directly generated by the project, areas that invest in renewable energy tend to see an increase in interest by businesses and manufacturers.
These figures are preliminary and subject to change upon the completion of economic analysis for the project, which will be prepared as part of our due diligence.
How long will the site be operational?
Winner Solar is expected to operate, and generate revenue for Clinton County, for more than 40 years.
What is the amount of impervious surface being proposed (solar field, access roads, building)?
There are often questions about what is pervious, or allows water to pass through, or impervious, when it comes to building a solar project. While individual solar panels don’t allow water to physically pass through, panels are considered pervious when spaced according to industry standards and follow all PADEP pervious panel recommendations. Panel rows are spaced to accommodate future maintenance, promote sheet flow of runoff from the panels, and allow natural infiltration of runoff into the ground beneath the panels. They are considered pervious because they do not permanently block the water from reaching the soil underneath, but rather allow it to reach and absorb into that soil in a natural way.
Surfaces being calculated as impervious are limited to the substation, foundation pilings, inverter pads, gravel, and/or roadway surfaces. The total impervious area on an average commercial solar site is less than 4% of the developed area.
What environmental studies have been completed and are planned for Winner Solar?
The project is still very early on in development, so no environmental and cultural field-specific studies have been conducted yet. However, as development continues, we intend to initiate the following consultations/studies to ensure this project will not have a negative impact on sensitive environmental resources:
- Consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), utilizing the Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory (PNDI) process. Associated surveys will be completed in accordance with USFWS and Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) protocols and study plans will be reviewed and approved by both agencies prior to surveys.
- As required by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, raptor nest surveys will be completed to ensure that no raptor will be located within the project area or within a 660-foot buffer around the project area.
- Consultation with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) concerning the project’s potential interaction with any threatened and endangered species under their jurisdiction.
- A wetland and stream delineation survey has been completed to determine the location and extent of any wetlands and streams within the project area. In Pennsylvania, a State Programmatic General Permit (PASPGP-5) is expected to be issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for activities that would cause no more than minimal adverse environmental effects.
- Consultation with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC). A Phase 1 archeological study will be completed after the study plan was approved by PHMC. Thousands of shovel tests will be completed in areas of high and moderate likelihood to hold any cultural or historical artifacts at the project site. A report detailing the archeological study results will be submitted to the PHMC for review and approval.
- A Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will also be completed to determine if any known, suspect, historical environmental conditions, or de minimis conditions are found.
What types of vegetation are planned for the site?
After construction is complete, native pasture/meadow mix recommended by the PADEP and supplied by local vendors will be planted. The grass mixes recommended by PADEP have very deep roots and take root very quickly, helping to stabilize the site after construction. These grasses are expected to be cut at least twice a year at a height above four inches with 90% coverage and without use of chemical treatment (per PADEP pervious panel recommendations).
Will the solar panels be made in America?
At this time, the Winner Solar project will utilize monocrystalline silicon solar modules. Unfortunately, there are still only a few American manufacturers of these solar panels today, so there are no guarantees that American-made panels will be available or cost-effective for use at Winner Solar.
Has a buyer been identified for Winner’s electricity?
No power purchase agreement has been signed for this project.
Will Winner Solar include any batteries or energy storage?
No battery storage is planned for Winner Solar at this time; however, the project’s lease provides for the right to develop, construct, and operate a utility-scale energy storage facility at the project site. The solar industry is working to create efficient energy storage so that energy created during the day can be used after the sun goes down – which helps to lower local energy costs. Storage costs are dropping rapidly, so battery storage may be considered at a future date at this location. If added, battery storage will still have to be fully permitted through the county and any additional state and federal environmental review.
What is the operations and maintenance plan for Winner Solar?
Winner Solar will be monitored remotely with modern SCADA technology and is planned to be operated by Apex Clean Energy. The facility is not expected to have full-time staff on-site during operations. Instead, local, and regional contractors will visit Winner periodically to perform maintenance and repairs and to mow the meadow grasses under and around the solar panels.
I’ve never heard of Apex Clean Energy. Tell me about them.
Founded in 2009, Apex Clean Energy is a full-service renewable energy company focused on bringing utility-scale generation facilities to market, from site origination and financing to turnkey construction and long-term asset management. Apex’s mission-driven team of more than 300 professionals uses a data-focused approach and an unrivaled portfolio of projects to create solutions for the world’s most innovative and forward-thinking customers. Headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia, Apex is expanding the renewable frontier across North America.
Apex’s track record of successful transactions and strong relationships in the global financial community underpin its capabilities: since the company’s founding, Apex has commercialized more than 30 projects totaling nearly 8 gigawatts (GW) of capacity, and more than two dozen Apex-originated wind and solar facilities are now operating around the country, totaling over 6.5 GW. Operating assets under management have grown to over 2 GW.
Learn more at www.apexcleanenergy.com.
What solar sites has Apex Clean Energy developed that are in operation?
Apex Clean Energy has thousands of megawatts of solar projects in various phases of development, including eight other solar projects similar to Winner throughout Pennsylvania. Swiftwater Solar, located in Monroe County, should be Apex’s first operational solar plant in Pennsylvania with an expected operational date in December 2023. Apex has a portfolio of operating solar sites across the country from Colorado to Texas to Virginia.
Will Winner Solar impact runoff, erosion, or flood plains?
No. To minimize the amount of earth that must be disturbed and graded, Winner Solar will be designed to be constructed on the flattest portions of the project site. In addition, the land beneath and around the solar panels will be planted with native grasses, which will take root quickly and help stabilize the soil and prevent runoff, and ultimately, erosion.
The project is required by law to receive state approval of a stormwater management plan that ensures no excess sediment or water volume can impact nearby waterways or neighboring properties. Winner Solar will comply with all federal, state, and local laws, many of which relate to stormwater and erosion control management.
Before the project begins construction, it will be required to receive a Stormwater Permit from the PADEP. The application for the permit will be prepared by a licensed, third-party civil engineer. The application will include a full analysis of the project’s anticipated impacts to water flow, considering the hydrology and topography of the project site and the specifics of the project’s design, and it will propose a set of best management practice techniques to ensure runoff from the project does not impact neighbors, existing infrastructure, or waterways. Construction of the project will not begin until the PADEP has approved the Stormwater Permit Application.
Are solar panels toxic?
No. Winner Solar will utilize monocrystalline silicon solar modules—which are nontoxic. Crystalline panels use a crystal lattice of silicon atoms to convert sunlight into electricity. Silicon is the second-most-abundant material on Earth (after oxygen), the most common semiconductor used in computer chips, and is nontoxic. Learn more at https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/solar-photovoltaic-cell-basics.
Should I be concerned about impacts to wildlife?
No. Studies show that in addition to helping displace emissions produced by fossil fuel generation, solar energy facilities can improve biodiversity and benefit wildlife by improving habitat in their immediate vicinity (https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.est.8b00020). Although solar panels may modify wildlife habitat in the project’s immediate footprint, evidence suggests that these changes are balanced by other habitat-based benefits, and there is currently no evidence to support a conclusion that solar farms have an adverse impact on wildlife’s use of the land surrounding the project. As a part of the permitting process, Winner Solar will consult with state and federal wildlife agencies, including the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) and the USFWS to ensure that wildlife is adequately protected.
Is dust going to be mitigated during construction?
Yes. Depending on the time of year that construction of Winner Solar takes place, unpaved roads used to access the project site might be quite dry. Winner will minimize the production of dust from construction traffic using common methods that may include watering roads or applying dust control treatments, as required by sediment and erosion control regulations.
How will taxpayers be protected from decommissioning costs?
Per Clinton County Amendment Ordinance No. 1 of 2021, amending parts 2, 4, 6, and Appendix A of the 2016 Clinton County Zoning Ordinance, Apex is required to decommission a project at the end of its operational life and restore the land to it’s pre-facility state at the project’s expense and at no cost to local landowners or taxpayers. Specifically, Section 3 Part 6 was amended to add Section 618: 12.A which requires a combined management and decommissioning plan to be submitted with the land development application. Specific details regarding the decommissioning and restoration tasks at end of life of the facility shall be included in the land development application for the project. The formal mechanism to ensure financial assurance/security is a performance bond for the decommissioning of the project site upon discontinuation at end of life or abandonment. The decommissioning bond requirements are specified in the Clinton County Zoning Ordinance, as amended by Ordinance No.3 of 2022 which amended Part 2, Section 202 and Part 6, Section 618 of the 2016 Clinton County Zoning Ordinance.
How will the solar panels affect property values?
Many studies have concluded that there is no impact on sale price for residential, agricultural, or vacant residential land that adjoins existing or proposed solar farms. Matched pair studies, which compare similar parcels of land that do and do not border solar farms, find that properties retain competitive value after the installation of solar panels. Further, as solar panels remain compatible with other land uses, land use can be maximized to bolster value.
Recent studies have shown that property values near wind farms go up after a project is built, which suggests that property values near solar farms would see a similar boost (https://www.carbonbrief.org/windfarms-raise-incomes-and-house-prices-in-rural-us-study-finds/)
How do I know that this project will stand by its commitments if ownership of the project changes?
No matter who owns the project during its lifetime, that entity will be legally bound to honor all the legally binding commitments the project has made over time – which includes all accountability mechanisms as well. All lease contracts, county and township agreements, and representations made in project applications will remain fully in effect through this transfer and any future transfers to new ownership.
Will Winner be able to withstand a severe wind event?
Solar panels are designed to withstand inclement weather events, including wind, rain, hail, snow and long-term exposure to the sun. Each project is engineered specifically for its site by professional engineers who provide stamped drawings for the system racking installation, including pier embedment depths, dampener locations, and module attachment requirements. Registered professional engineers are responsible for confirming that the project is designed to comply with the National Building Code. This code sets the design wind speed (specifically for hurricane zones) and sets the minimum wind speed for which the racking system and panel connection must be designed. The engineer also confirms that the project meets electric codes and standards UL 3703, UL 2703, and IEC 62817.
In addition, the engineers’ evaluation incorporates consideration of numerous site-specific factors, including both local expected wind speeds and potential extreme wind speeds. Once the project is built, weather stations at multiple locations across the project site will signal the tracking system to move to certain “stow positions” if the wind speeds increase to the higher limits of the design. These systems are designed to protect themselves in high-wind conditions.
Civil and geotechnical engineers also evaluate site-specific soil conditions to determine the proper sizing of the support piers—for example, whether pier coatings are needed for alkaline soils and how deep support piers must be driven. The physical investigation techniques used to assess geotechnical conditions include soil borings and push-pull tests to determine soil friction. These tests have been completed.
These evaluations ensure that projects are designed and built to be safe on their specific sites. If an unanticipated extreme weather event does take place and the solar system is damaged, or if system components cause damage to someone else’s property, the project or its insurance policy would cover the cost of repairs and/or removal of damaged equipment.
Do solar facilities cause wildfires?
No. Renewable resources, including solar PV, lessen the effects of wildfire season. Studies show that helping displace emissions produced by fossil fuel generation will help slow the effects of climate change, which is known to make forests hotter and drier and, in turn, increase the chances of wildfire. In addition, solar energy facilities can improve biodiversity and benefit wildlife by improving habitat in their immediate vicinity.
What happens if a solar panel is damaged?
Since the solar panels in a solar farm are modular, if a solar panel is damaged at any time during construction or operations, the individual panel will be replaced, and the damaged panel will be removed from the site for disposal or recycling.
Do solar facilities produce infrasound?
No. Solar projects have not been shown to be significant sources of low frequency sound (20 hertz to 200 Hz) or infrasound (less than 20 Hz). The available one-third octave band sound data for solar panel inverters have shown low levels at the frequencies of concern.
Will there be glint or glare from the solar panel clusters?
Because any glare at all coming from solar panels significantly reduces efficiency, Winner Solar will use solar panels that are designed to maximize absorption and minimize reflection to increase electricity production efficiency. Panels are designed with at least one antireflective layer that produces smaller amounts of glare and reflectance than normal glass. The light that is still reflected from solar panels will be at a reflection point higher than motor vehicles, pedestrians, and similar vantage points. The intensity of any glare will be a great deal less than the glare from direct sunlight, and no hazard to air navigation has been found.
What kind of traffic is construction going to generate?
Construction is expected to take about 10 to 12 months, with a variety of activities taking place over that time, some requiring more activity and some requiring less. On average, construction will require about 10 to 20 truck trips per day, but during the 9-month period when racking systems and modules are being delivered to the project site, traffic to and from the project site could increase to 50 to 75 truck trips per week. Most delivery vehicles will be standard tractor trailers and dump trucks. Once the project is operational, traffic will be insignificant, limited primarily to pickup trucks and other small vehicles.
What type of sound do solar facilities produce, and how much?
While the solar trackers do produce a small amount of sound, the main source of sound in a solar facility are the inverters. These devices convert DC power to AC power and are best described as making a humming-type sound. We expect the sound pressure of our inverters to be 55dB at 50 meters. (In other words, at the fence line, sound from this project should be well below background sound.)
As you can see from the graph below, the project’s sound level equates to that of normal conversation. Since our inverters are all interior to the project, we expect little to no sound to travel beyond the project area.
Will I still be able to hunt on the property?
Although solar panels are tough, they aren’t bulletproof. Because of this, no hunting will be allowed within the project boundary. Fortunately, the region has thousands of acres of public land where hunting is allowed, so you won’t have to travel far to find prime hunting ground.
How will runoff from this project impact the temperature of local water features?
The paneled area of this project will be planted with what is called a meadow mix, which is a seed mix made up of native annual and perennial species that takes root quickly and requires minimal mowing. This type of surface cover helps to promote ground absorption of water, or infiltration, and studies will be conducted to verify that infiltration is a viable stormwater treatment for this site. Concentrated runoff from impervious surfaces or excess water from the paneled area will be captured by our infiltration basins, each placed specifically where we expect to maximize their impact on stormwater runoff. Water that enters the infiltration basins is released from the bottom of the basin at a very slow rate of return to the water system. Once runoff water enters the infiltration process, it will percolate through the subsurface and be cooled back to normal temperatures before they enter temperature sensitive waters.
Some of the basins for Winner Solar will release into local wetlands, none of which will have primary disturbances from runoff. We are required by the PADEP to have licensed environmental scientists perform anti-degradation analysis to ensure there will be no secondary impact to wetlands and their buffers.
On a much larger scale, it is a fact that continued use of fossil fuels will raise the temperature globally. The currently predicted 2.5 to 10 degree temperature increase over the next 100 years will cause significant, irreparable harm to not only the fish and wildlife living in local rivers and creeks, but the fish and wildlife living in every creek on Earth. Grid-scale renewable energy projects like Winner Solar are critical to mitigate that temperature increase and this location is ideal for a grid-scale project.
How much will water volume be changed by this project?
The project will be designed to the greatest extent practicable to have little to no impact on local water volumes, per the requirements PADEP, which dictate that post-development peak flow rates must be detained or reduced from the 2, 5, 25, 50, and 100-year storm events pre-development. These stringent requirements not only control high flow rates and erosive velocities of the outfall channels but also mitigate large post-development volumes of water flushing the river system.
All runoff volume impacted by Winner Solar will be released into the system at a slower rate than what is the case currently with the use of basins, which promote higher infiltration rates and ensures groundwater recharge after large storm events.
How will the nutrient load of local creeks and waterways be impacted?
The PADEP Solar Panel Farm Guidance and Considerations document, which we will be abiding by, requires that onsite vegetation not be mowed more than 4 times per year and should not be cut to less than 4 inches in height. Accordingly, and because of setbacks from these waterbodies, we don’t expect to have much, if any, of an impact on the nutrient load on any local water features.
Our infiltration basins will be designed to meet PADEP water quality requirements. Those requirements are computed for each contributing watershed to guarantee they are tailored to local ecosystems, and not one-size-fits-all.