Harvey Solar works diligently to provide accurate, well-vetted information about solar, the Project, and its potential impacts on the Hartford Township community. Internet sources, whether research publications, periodicals, or social media must be carefully reviewed for accuracy. The information below is intended to respond to many of the concerns and statements shared online and on social media. Harvey Solar believes it is important to address these statements and provide factual clarity to the community.

Common Incorrect Statements Regarding Permanent Change

·       “Harvey Solar LLC wants to permanently change the face of our township”

·       “Having these ugly and toxic solar panel developments scattered all over Hartford will make it less appealing for potential buyers.”

·       “Many longtime residents of our community may also move out due to the risks and the view, leaving behind a less populated community as well as potential vacant properties.”

FACTS AND CREDIBLE SOURCES

As demonstrated above, the ”toxic” claim is not true, and the supposed “risks” do not exist.

Although it is a long-lived development, Harvey Solar will not  be permanent.  It is required to be decommissioned, and the land restored to roughly its current condition, at the end of the project’s  useful life (about 40 years).  Harvey Solar’s permitting application includes a binding commitment backed by financial assurance (such as bonding) to decommission the project and restore the land at the end of its useful life.[1]  Additionally, as a condition of licensing for all solar projects, OPSB imposes decommissioning, restoration, and financial assurance requirements.[2]

Harvey Solar will be comprised of a number of separate fields with solar panels that never extend more than 15 feet high (and, then, only at their highest point during the day) over a large area that is relatively flat and that has a significant number of existing trees, hedges, and shrubs along property lines and roads.  These conditions alone will give the solar panels a low and unobtrusive visual profile.

Harvey Solar will incorporate a deep setback and robust landscaping specifically designed to mitigate the views of the solar panels from homes. As shown in the project’s publicly available application, Harvey Solar will be built with a minimum 300-foot setback from homes and a landscape plan designed by professional landscape architects that is focused on enhancing views from homes and roads.[3]

Resources:

[1] Application for a Certificate of Compatibility and Public Need by Harvey Solar I, LLC, OPSB Case No, 21-0164-EL-BGN, Section VI.F.4, available at: http://dis.puc.state.oh.us/TiffToPDf/A1001001A21H06A91409E00537.pdf

[2] Opinion, Order and Certificate, OPSB Case No. 20-1288-EL-BGN, Section VII.(15), available at: http://dis.puc.state.oh.us/TiffToPDf/A1001001A21C18B40239E01280.pdf

[3] MKSK Studios, Preliminary Landscape Plan, Exhibit X to Application, OPSB Case No. 21-0164-EL-BGN, available at: http://dis.puc.state.oh.us/CaseRecord.aspx?CaseNo=21-0164-EL-BGN.