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Barnwell Solar

 Will generate locally produced renewable energy, promoting economic growth, while preserving air, water and land.

BARNWELL SOLAR FARM

60 Megawatts of Clean Energy in Barnwell County, South Carolina

5311 Patterson Mill Road, Barnwell, SC

The Barnwell Solar Farm will generate locally-produced renewable energy, while preserving air, water and land.

Features of the  Solar Project
  • Photovoltaic (PV) solar farm capable of generating up to 60 megawatts (MW) of clean, renewable energy.
  • Subject to local and state approvals, the farm is scheduled to begin operations as early as Spring 2022.
  • The farm is expected to provide approximately over $170 thousand  in additional tax revenue per year for Barnwell County  over the life of the farm, money that can enhance local schools, roads, parks, flood control, public works, fire, police and other services.
  • During the operational period, there will be virtually no drain on public services (roads, schools, emergency services, etc.)

 

What is Solar?
  • Solar is a clean, unlimited, and locally sourced energy source with little to no environmental impacts.  Once built, the operating expenses for solar are less expensive than most any other generating source, making it one of the most competitive sources of energy regardless of economic conditions throughout the expected life of the farm.
  • Panels are primarily made of glass, aluminum, copper and other common materials, and meet all local, state, and federal regulations. As these panels are highly durable and expertly designed, solar panels are safe to the general public.
  • According to N.C. State University’s “Health and Safety Impacts of Solar Photovoltaics,” the solar panels that will be used on this solar farm “do not pose a material risk or toxicity to public health and safety.”
  • The panels are fixed on steel mounts set on steel piles driven into the ground.  The farm will be designed to withstand the harsh storms impacting the community.  The solar farm will be properly engineered, designed, and insured according to industry standards as required for financing of solar farms.
  • Solar infrastructure is built for maximum reliability and durability, and a 2015 NREL study found that 99.9% of large-scale solar farms will withstand hurricanes and other significant weather impacts.
  • “Ecoplexus’ solar projects have fared well in hurricanes and come back online more quickly than traditional power sources.” 
  • Solar farms are compatible with multi-use farming practices. Solar grazing, as described here, is a commonly used method of maintaining the farm’s vegetation while raising livestock for agricultural purposes.
  • Solar provides agricultural lands the opportunity to become fallow and recover, replenishing soil health for future use.

 

Environmental Impacts
  • The farm avoids habitat for sensitive species and connects to existing power lines that are on the property.
  • The minimal ground cover of a solar farm–the panels are set on steel piles–means the land underneath the solar farm will absorb rainwater.
  • Existing drainage and canals onsite will be avoided where possible. All necessary local, state, and federal requirements for stormwater design will be adhered to. It is not expected that the solar plant will generate more stormwater runoff than a typical agricultural field, regardless of the crop planted.
  • Water requirements for solar farms are minimal and primarily needed during construction.
  •  Extensive research has found that theoretical electromagnetic fields produced by solar projects are “indistinguishable from background levels produced by other human and natural sources […] and therefore are not a concern to public health.”
  • The solar farm will be maintained with local plant and grass species that will support agricultural soils, allowing the land to fallow and benefitting future land use.
  • Solar farms do not contribute to significant agricultural land loss, and instead allows farmers to maintain a steady revenue from their property, helping them keep their agricultural business in the long term. The SEIA “Solar and Agricultural Land Use” fact sheet provides additional information and sources on this subject.
  • Dual-use solar farms are exceedingly common in the solar industry,  and “solar grazing” is an effective way to maintain vegetation while producing wool and other sheep-based products.
  • The farm will be decommissioned and all land used for this development will be returned to pre-construction conditions at the end of the farm’s useful life.
  • At the end of the solar lifecycle, all solar infrastructure including solar arrays, inverters, concrete foundations and pads, and fences will be removed, and if applicable, recycled through a PV recycling program.

 

Community Impacts
  • Ecoplexus has engaged a national, top-tier consultant to assess the visual impacts of the  Solar Farm  at numerous viewpoints in the surrounding community and recommend suitable visual screening using landscaping to address any of those impacts.
  • The  Solar Farm will be setback from the property and behind a visual screen to reduce visual impacts from the solar farm once vegetation matures.
  • The results of an independent real estate value study concludes the  Solar Farm as designed will have no impact on the value of adjoining or abutting property and the proposed use is in harmony with the area in which it is located.
  • People living next to solar farms have expressed positive benefits of living nearby, including protection from future development of residential developments or other intrusive uses, reduced dust, odor, and chemicals from former farming operations, protection from light pollution at night, the lack of noise and once operational, and minimal traffic from the maintenance of the farm.
  • There will be little-to-no sound produced by this development. The quiet hum of electrical transformers and inverters will not be noticed outside the farm boundaries.
  • The solar panels are designed to absorb light, rather than reflect it, which mitigates glare concerns for adjoining properties.
  • Solar facilities are a low-impact, passive development: they are quiet and they do not create the noise, dust, traffic and odor as a traditional farm can.

Employment Opportunities

The  Solar Project will generate Employment Opportunities in the local community, bringing approximately 100 full time equivalent construction jobs to Barnwell County along with numerous ongoing employment and contracting opportunities over the life of the farm.

County Tax Revenue

  • Throughout the life of the Solar Project, we expect over $170 thousand in additional tax revenue to be generated per year for Barnwell County.  

Decommissioning 

At the end of its useful life, the land underneath the  Solar Project  will be restored back to its pre-construction condition. All structures and materials will be removed from site, and the solar farm will be decommissioned.

About the Developer

The  Solar Project is being developed by Ecoplexus Inc. (“Ecoplexus”).   Ecoplexus was founded in 2007 and is a leading international, integrated renewable energy and energy storage developer, owner, and operator with a proven record of development, construction and operation.  Ecoplexus develops, owns and operates utility- scale solar photovoltaic (PV) farms in the 10-600  MW range.  To date, the Company has constructed and financed over 80 farms. Currently, Ecoplexus Inc. manages a construction and development pipeline of over 7,500 MWs across the U.S., Asia and Latin America, while additionally providing operation and maintenance (O&M) services to owners for approximately 55 farms. Ecoplexus has offices in Durham, San Francisco, Dallas, Mexico City, Tokyo, Seoul, Tapei and Ho Chi Mihn City.

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