Element Power hosts open house
Joy Schmidt and Mike Goodwin discuss engineering and construction of the proposed site of Element Power on property leased from Poplars Ranch, Inc.
Concerns about a new solar development were addressed at an open house hosted by Element Power at Christmas Valley on Thursday, Aug. 26.
The event was a precursor to a public hearing where the development will be considered for a conditional use permit. Approximately 50 attendees had the opportunity to talk one-on-one with representatives of the Portland company about potential impacts of the new facility, to be located in north Lake County.
According to Element’s permit application, archaeological sites have been identified on the property, including one that is documented as Smithsonian Site Number 35LK1275. Element hired SWCA, an environmental consulting firm in Portland, to check for cultural resources and for potential impacts on wildlife. Prior to construction, an archaeologist will create a report for the State Historic Preservation Office, and development will wait for permits and approvals where cultural resources are found.
SWCA’s July 19 report described a small wetland, known locally as Windmill Lake, that the developers plan to avoid. The remainder of the site was found to have been heavily grazed. “Marginal habitat for burrowing owl, pygmy rabbit, and greater sage grouse exists within the analysis area…. These species or their sign were not observed during the field survey,” stated the report.
The potential for high levels of noise from the movement of solar panels has been a concern among residents, but Hughes said that after construction, noise would be minimal. “They move very slowly and they don’t make noise. The noise you would hear is from the inverter…. it’s like a very light hum. Like the sound of your home refrigerator running.”
In an email communication, Emily Sanders, development director for Element, responded to the public concern that the site will one day need to be cleaned up. “The panels are designed to last as least 20 to 25 years, and at that time, the panels can be replaced while maintaining much of the other infrastructure of the project,” wrote Sanders. “Once a solar P.V. project is built, there are very few operating costs, so it makes sense to keep them running once they are built.”
“We would be happy to pay a bond, but it has to be after the project has been operating for a while, so that we can actually appraise the value of the project closer to when it would be decommissioned,” said Hughes. “We have an agreement with the land owner which requires us to clean the project up if we leave it.”
According to company literature, Element is a global company that owns and operates wind and solar facilities. The projects generate sustainable economic opportunity and growth in the communities where they are located.
The solar arrays will stand about 8 feet high, and the footprint of the site will be less than 100 acres. Element has leased the land from Poplars Ranch, Inc. in the west half of section 35, township 26 south, range 15 east.