Solar energy works by converting sunlight into electricity using photovoltaic (PV) cells, which are made of semiconductor materials like silicon. When sunlight strikes the PV cells, it excites electrons, creating an electric current. The electricity is then converted from direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) by inverters and fed into the grid for use.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL): Solar Energy Basics

A solar farm is a collection of interconnected solar panels placed strategically to maximize their ability to capture sunlight and convert it to electricity. These ground-mounted projects are connected to the electrical grid to supply energy directly to the local utility.

A solar farm is sometimes called a solar array, solar park, solar project, solar power plant, photovoltaic (PV) farm, solar energy facility, or solar field.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL): Solar Energy Basics

U.S. Department of Energy: How Does Solar Work?

Yes, solar panels and the energy they generate are highly reliable technology that provide clean, renewable energy for a 25-30-year lifespan. Enough energy from the sun hits the Earth every hour to power the planet for an entire year. We just need to harness it!

While solar panel output depends on sunlight, ground-mounted systems are durable, designed for long-term performance, and often located in areas with high solar potential to maximize reliability. Solar panels are designed to perform efficiently in a variety of weather conditions, ensuring consistent power generation. They are built to endure harsh elements such as hail, snow, and high winds.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, solar farms contribute to grid stability by reducing peak demand and integrating with diverse energy sources to provide a dependable energy supply.

U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Reliability & Resilience

Ground-mounted solar panels typically measure about 7.5 feet by 3-3.5 feet. The height of the panels from the ground varies depending on the panel arrangement and mounting structure but usually ranges between 3 feet at lowest point and 10 feet at the highest point.

Yes, the soil is minimally disturbed during construction, so surrounding grass and vegetation remain intact. Where vegetation is absent native grasses, wildflowers, and pollinator-friendly plants are typically grown under solar panels.

U.S. Department of Energy: Crop and Soil Health

Farmers/landowners benefit financially from leasing their land for solar. This income creates a predictable long-term revenue stream that allows them to finance growth and plan for succession, keeping land in the family for generations.

Solar farms can also improve soil health over time. They may also provide farmer landowners with the unique opportunity to continue small-scale operations. 

Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA): Solar & Agricultural Land Use

The construction timeline for a solar arm depends on its size and complexity but typically ranges from 6 to 18 months. This includes site preparation, equipment installation, and connection to the power grid. Larger projects may take longer due to permitting or grid interconnection processes.

No, modern solar photovoltaic (PV) panels are designed to be safe and durable. They are sealed and pose a negligible risk during their operational lifespan. The silicon-based panels proposed for this project do not contain cadmium or other harmful heavy metals often associated with earlier solar technologies.

Solar panels are not classified as hazardous waste and do not pose an environmental threat. Proper recycling and disposal methods at end-of-life mitigate any potential environmental impact. Studies, such as those by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), confirm that solar panels are not a significant source of heavy metal pollution when handled responsibly.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL): The Safety of Photovoltaics

Solar panels have a lifespan of 25–30 years and are primarily recycled at the end of their useful life. Materials like glass, aluminum, and silicon are recoverable through specialized recycling facilities. In the U.S., programs like the SEIA’s National PV Recycling Program aim to ensure responsible handling of solar panel waste.

Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA): Solar Panel Recycling

No, solar panels and their components do not emit harmful radiation or hazardous levels of electromagnetic fields (EMFs). The EMFs produced by solar systems are comparable to everyday household appliances. They decrease rapidly with distance and are well below hazardous levels established by organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO). Solar technology is non-ionizing, meaning it cannot cause cellular damage.

World Health Organization (WHO): Radiation and Health Overview

World Health Organization (WHO): Electromagnetic Fields and Public Health

Solar farms produce minimal noise. The primary component of solar farms, solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, are completely silent during operation. Inverters and transformers, which only operate when the panels generate electricity during the day, generate some minimal noise. These sounds are typically equivalent to a low hum and are not audible beyond the immediate vicinity of the equipment. This equipment is located at least 100 feet from property lines, further minimizing any potential noise to neighbors.

Noise levels from solar farms are well below thresholds that would pose risks to human health or cause disturbances. Additionally, noise studies are performed to confirm that ground-mounted solar farms comply with local and state regulations and do not cause harmful noise pollution.

Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA): Solar Farms and Noise

Solar panels are designed to absorb, not reflect, sunlight. Light absorption is central to the function of solar panels, which are constructed of dark-colored (usually blue or black) materials. In fact, modern solar panels feature textured glass and anti-reflective coatings to maximize light absorption and minimize reflection. Studies confirm that the glare from solar panels is far less intense than glare from other reflective surfaces like water, glass, or snow, making them safe even for nearby properties, transportation routes, and airports.

International City/County Management Association (ICMA): Solar PV and Glare

Yes, especially when compared to conventional (fossil fuel) energy sources. When comparing solar energy to fossil fuels, the risks from fossil fuel extraction, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions are far more significant. Fossil fuel combustion releases harmful pollutants linked to respiratory and heart diseases and even premature death – while solar energy produces no air or water pollution, making it a cleaner, safer alternative.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL): The Safety of Photovoltaics

Yes, solar farm sites are fenced to ensure safety and security, prevent unauthorized access, and protect wildlife from potential harm. Fencing designs may include gaps or modifications to allow small animals to move through while keeping larger wildlife and humans out.

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS): Conservation Considerations for Solar Farms

Solar farms temporarily set aside land and protect it from permanent loss due to urbanization (subdivision) and industrialization. They are often sited on low-quality or unused/underutilized agricultural land to minimize impacts on food production or on previously disturbed land, such as brownfields or former industrial sites. In addition, solar energy projects can help rejuvenate farmland by providing an opportunity for land to recover and restore its natural health.

Where continued agricultural use is desired or required, dual-use or “agrivoltaics” allow farming activities like grazing or crop cultivation to coexist with solar installations. This approach aligns well with small-scale farming, helping to preserve local agricultural operations. By combining solar energy with agriculture, we can produce food without intensive practices to support local and high-quality crop production or grazing. The Department of Energy highlights agrivoltaics as a sustainable way to balance land use.

According to a report by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), solar PV panels on just 22,000 square miles of the nation’s total land area – about the size of Lake Michigan – could supply enough electricity to power the entire United States.

U.S. Department of Energy: Agrivoltaics

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL): Solar Land Use

Solar panels themselves do not cause flooding or erosion. The surrounding land use, management practices, and site selection can influence how a solar farm interacts with local water systems. Properly designed solar farms include measures to manage water runoff, such as deep-rooted grasses planted under the panels to reduce runoff, improve water absorption, and help stabilize the soil.

Stormwater management systems are also incorporated into solar farm designs to prevent flooding. A combination of stormwater drainage basins, comprehensive stormwater management plans, and erosion and sediment control measures are implemented at each site.

In Connecticut, solar farms receive approval from and are monitored by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CTDEEP) to ensure site designs fully comply with stormwater regulations. This includes obtaining a Stormwater Discharge Permit.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL): Stormwater Management

No, solar farms are generally designed to have minimal impact on local ecosystems and wildlife. Studies indicate that solar farms can provide habitats for pollinators like bees and butterflies, as well as safe areas and shading for other wildlife.

Before construction, thorough environmental assessments are conducted to ensure that the land is suitable for solar development and that sensitive habitats or endangered species are not disrupted. The CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CTDEEP) reviews the Natural Diversity Database (NDDB) to ensure that no populations of Federal or State Endangered, Threatened, or Special Concern Species are known to occur or be found in the project area.

If such species are found on site, a management plan may include measures like restoring native vegetation growth to minimize mowing and providing wildlife habitat and using wildlife-friendly fencing to allow movement through the project site.

Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA): Biodiversity in Solar Farms

Numerous studies, including those by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), find little to no evidence that solar farms negatively affect nearby property values and, in some cases, may even have positive effects. Proactive developers use visual buffers, landscaping, and community engagement to help ensure solar farms harmoniously integrate with their surroundings, minimizing aesthetic and property value concerns.

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL): Property Value Impacts of Utility-Scale Solar

At the end of a solar farm’s operational life, it will be decommissioned. Decommissioning involves removing all solar panels, mounting structures, and electrical equipment. The land is then restored to its original condition or prepared for another use.

The solar farm developer or owner is responsible for decommissioning costs. The state and local municipality typically require financial arrangements, such as a decommissioning bond, to ensure that the costs are covered and do not fall on the landowner or taxpayers.

U.S. Department of Energy: Decommissioning Solar Farms