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 with forest service and BLM • Promoted district engagement • Fuels to Schools • Promoted districts/energy conservation in ag: Booklet on successes Presentations Solar, wind, biofuels
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
Concerns in the countryside • Farmland conversion (24 million acres developed since ‘82) • Destabilize local farm economy • Land values • Neighborhood conflicts • “Outsiders” • Health concerns?
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
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 • 16 solar farms in 12 MN counties • Siting is farmer-driven • Power sold to Excel Energy • Driven by price decline, ITC, state RPF • Crop productivity index may • “Rarely get negative comments”: Beau help decision-making Kennedy, Goodhue SWCD
Districts and solar farms • Wisconsin, 300-MW project – 5 1/2 SQM in Iowa County • State PSC decides • No district involvement
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
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
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 Farmland often path of least resistance • NACD: Handbook or template for district involvement Bill Berry, NACD utility infielder bbns1951@gmail.com
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