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Sola lar sit itin ing and Conserv rvation Dis istric icts - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Sola lar sit itin ing and Conserv rvation Dis istric icts - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Sola lar sit itin ing and Conserv rvation Dis istric icts Where is is our pla lace ? Bill Berry, NACD utility infielder bbns1951@gmail.com Berry Wisconsin solar NACD and renewable energy Biomass and forest health Major contract
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NACD and renewable energy
- Biomass and forest health
- Major contract with forest
service and BLM
- Promoted district engagement
- Fuels to Schools
- Promoted districts/energy
conservation in ag: Booklet on successes Presentations Solar, wind, biofuels
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A few points
- Solar farms: 100 MW or more = 5-7 acres per MW, plus additional land
- Rapid growth challenges: land use, property rights, NIMBY, farmland
- Patchwork of regulations, incentives, tax credits
- “It happened so fast” ITC and China, now market
- Some states seek to protect prime farmland, other resources
- Poor farm economy puts farmers in bind
- District roles likely to grow
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Concerns in the countryside
- Farmland conversion (24 million
acres developed since ‘82)
- Destabilize local farm economy
- Land values
- Neighborhood conflicts
- “Outsiders”
- Health concerns?
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What some states are doing*
- NJ, MA , CT require additional review for facilities on “covered”
farmland
- Intended in part to make farmland less attractive
- NJ: state review of lands with conservation easement
- MA: State approval for lands under “current use taxation”; has
inhibited conversion
- CT: Ag Dept. must certify project won’t materially affect prime
farmland
- NJ and MA incentives for brownfields
- CA: Incentives for use of non-farmland
- MI: Loss of income and property tax credits for conversion
- Moratorium in WA Kittitas County; ban in NC Currituck County
“Approaches to Balancing Solar Expansion and Farmland Preservation,” Travis Grout, Jennifer Ifft, Cornell
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What about districts and solar farms?
- Not heavy involvement, but
some
- Goodhue County, MN: Planning
and Zoning, with some district involvement
- Conditional use permit required
- Solar ordinances don’t address
loss of farmland
- Some solar on prime farmland
- Siting is farmer-driven
- Crop productivity index may
help decision-making
- 16 solar farms in 12 MN counties
- Power sold to Excel Energy
- Driven by price decline, ITC, state RPF
- “Rarely get negative comments”: Beau
Kennedy, Goodhue SWCD
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Districts and solar farms
- Wisconsin, 300-MW project – 5
1/2 SQM in Iowa County
- State PSC decides
- No district involvement
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District roles
- Local resource expertise
- Provide this expertise for decision-makers
- Mapping and ID’ing prime farm, forestland, other resources
- Identifying sites for solar farms
- Help design balanced programs
- Convene or participate in discussions
- Educate public
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District roles
- Storm water inspections: Especially
during construction
- Help develop crop productivity
index
- Provide expertise on farmland
preservation plans
- Provide input on comprehensive
plans
- Agriculture, natural and cultural
resources, land use categories
- Help with vegetation, revegetation
- Education, outreach
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Recommendations
- Need to address prime farmland
sooner than later
- Towns can address with basic
resolutions
- State siting should consider prime
farmland
- Modify farmland protection programs
to address solar siting
- Use comprehensive plans
- Districts need to be a resource voice
- Districts convene or participate in
discussions
- NACD: Handbook or template for