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 Viewshed

You may read online or hear in your community similar inaccurate statements regarding viewshed impacts.

“This solar development will ruin the view for our residents. Big black solar panels as far as the eye can see. Some of these plots also run right up against residential lots.”

“Solar panels are also incredibly reflective. During certain hours of the day, residents and others driving past the developments will encounter the harsh glare.”

FACTS AND CREDIBLE SOURCES

Harvey Solar’s panels will be low to the ground, set back hundreds of feet from homes, and heavily landscaped. Solar facilities are a highly passive land use that often cause less disturbance to their neighbors than traditional farming activities.  Although solar facilities introduce a different “look” to the landscape, they have a low profile and vegetative screening can effectively mitigate their appearance.   

Harvey Solar has been specifically designed to include significant setbacks and vegetative screens around adjacent homes and main roads in order to blend the view of solar panels into the background and minimize effects on views.[1]  Additionally, as a condition of licensing for all solar projects, OPSB imposes conditions such as setbacks and screening to minimize impacts on adjoining property owners and public viewsheds.[2]

Regarding glare, the Massachusetts Department of Energy has explained that “issues with glare from PV panels are rare . . . [because] . . . [s]olar panels are designed to absorb solar energy and convert it into electricity . . . [s]olar module glass has less reflectivity that water or window glass.  Typical panels are designed to reflect only about 2 percent of incoming sunlight.  Reflected light from solar panels will have a significantly lower intensity than glare from direct sunlight.”[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 VIII.D.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.(12), available at: http://dis.puc.state.oh.us/TiffToPDf/A1001001A21C18B40239E01280.pdf)

[3] Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, et al., “Questions and Answers, Ground-Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Systems” (June 2015), p. 22, available at:  https://files-cdn.masscec.com/solar-pv-guide.pdf