Posted on May 13th, 2010 in Dust Control, Soil Stabilization by Bob Vitale
Environmental Solutions will support the building and maintenance of these important projects.
Great to read about the detailed research that is taking place to develop best practices for Solar Energy Developers, which is so important to the energy alternative solutions this country so desperately needs. The Dust Control, Soil Stabilization and Erosion Control Industry will play a major role in helping our country not only build these new energy plants with a commitment to mitigating negative environmental impact during this process, but maintaining these plants as well with a focus on “green” and safety.
Building these projects requires construction roads, service roads, heavy equipment movement as well as post construction maintenance to keep Solar panels and wind farms in optimum condition. It is critical that these projects use best green practices during the construction and maintenance process and do not overlook unintended consequences which could harm the environment if not planned properly.
Guidelines for Solar Development in Arizona
The Arizona Game and Fish Department, March 12, 2010
On March 12, 2010, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (“AGFD”) released finalized guidelines for solar development in Arizona (“Solar Guidelines”), the objective of which “is to assist energy developers in identifying potential impacts to wildlife and wildlife habitats from their proposed development and potential alternatives to avoid, minimize, and/or mitigate for these negative impacts.” The AGFD encourages local governments and permitting authorities to integrate the recommended study proposals described in the Solar Guidelines. The document is organized around five basic project development steps:
- Wildlife Protection Regulations
- AGFD Regulations and Review
- Gather preliminary information and conduct site screening
- Identify potential impacts to wildlife
- Mitigation
The Solar Guidelines were compiled by the AGFD employees and have not undergone any external public review or input from the solar energy industry. It should be noted that some of the information contained in the Solar Guidelines was taken from the AGFD’s wind guidelines. In light of the fact that county officials often defer to the AGFD in matters of wildlife concerns, special attention should be given to the section of the Solar Guidelines focused on “Avoiding or Minimizing Impacts” and the recommendations contained therein.
In addition, AGFD identified several areas in which information regarding the impacts of utility-scale solar development on wildlife and habitats is lacking. Specifically, AGFD believes that research is needed on the following topics:
- Determine the “effective footprint” of utility-scale solar development so mitigation strategies can be implemented at the spatial extent of the impact.
- Need to determine the potential effects of a proposed solar project on the demographics of
select wildlife species. - Evaluate the alteration of vegetation and micro-climate adjacent to solar facilities.
- Identify the impact that utility-scale solar development has on wildlife corridors.
- Evaluate the movement and behavior patterns of select wildlife species (e.g., ungulates,
grassland passerines, raptors) pre- and post construction - Examine the impacts to migratory birds and bats.
- Develop mitigation strategies to reduce the impacts of water impoundments associated with
solar facilities.
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