A good solar farm developer would not kill the vegetation to avoid mowing, instead, they would plant a native seed mix of grasses and wildflowers to support the soil and deter erosion. Dealing with an erosion problem would be far more costly than occasionally mowing, or grazing with sheep. A good solar farm should look a lot more natural than property being tilled and farmed. Looks aside, a properly managed solar farm should invite pollinators, increase plant and wildlife biodiversity, and provide habitat for multiple native species. 

 

As with any construction project, the county roads can get messy when heavy materials and equipment are being hauled in, but this shouldn’t be an issue that defines a solar farm. During construction, the solar developer should be working with the county to keep the roads in tip-top shape. This will only make the construction project easier to complete. After construction is completed, no heavy machinery or equipment should be necessary for 25 years, at which point the project is being decommissioned. During those 25 years of normal operation, you can expect to see 1 or 2 standard-sized vehicles around the farm on a daily or few times a week basis. A well-run solar project should have only a positive effect on the county roads.

 

I can see how a solar farm could be considered an eye sore if developed in a poor way, but again, why should it be? If native species are encouraged to grow, and the roads and property are kept up, it should be a pretty sight. Some folks have mentioned glare when talking about a solar farm, but the panels nowadays are coated with anti-reflective material, like window tint. This material isn’t added to reduce glare foremost, but to improve the efficiency of the panels at absorbing sunlight. The side effect of this coating is very little glare from the panels, a win-win.

 

At the end of the day, all solar farms should be developed in a good way. One that showcases the native plants in the region, provides habitat, and just looks good overall, but how can you be sure the solar farm near you is developed right? Demand that it is. You and your community will have a say in it and you should take it seriously. A solar farm in your community should not only make your life better through the jobs, revenue, and better electric bills it brings to the community, but it should look good and be something the community can be proud of.