Ryan Park, director of business development at REC Solar, offers advice on issues surrounding solar installations on farmland:
Permitting: “Many times, farms have a permit to perform commercial duties, even if it’s zoned agricultural. One of the reasons we’ve been successful working with farmers who have operations is because they usually have some empty space near a commercial facility. We can use that empty space to put in a ground-mount system.”
Transmission: “One big misconception when you look at farmland and see big transmission lines overhead is that it’s a great place to put solar. In reality, it can be cost-prohibitive unless you have a large enough project to interconnect at that high of voltage.”
Farmers: “First and foremost, farmers appreciate face-to-face communication and good old-fashioned business. A handshake and a look in the eye mean a lot. You don’t want to show up to a farm in a full suit and a tie. They’re going to think you’re overpriced.”
Timing: “Farming is seasonal. During harvesting, farms are like a busy freeway of 18-wheelers coming in and out. From an installation perspective, when you’re going to do the work is critical, and a lot of times, especially in Arizona and the Coachella Valley, you’re dealing with extreme heat, too.”
Soiling: “There’s no doubt about it: You’re going to get production losses from dirt and dust accumulation on panels. The credibility of the industry depends on accurate production estimations.”
Financing: “Farmers usually do not go the route of the PPA. They like the idea of owning the system. That works on the investor side, too. Investors want to see a host with investment-rated credit. Farmers may have a lot of different companies, but they’re not out on Moody’s getting rated credit.”
Read related article, “How To Harvest The Sun,” here.
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