Why is the project being located here?

This location was chosen because of the availability and quality of solar resources, proximity to the utility power grid, topography, and limited sensitive ecological and cultural resources.  Most importantly, the Project is located on a reclaimed strip mine and provides the perfect opportunity for beneficial reuse of the land.

How will Nottingham Solar affect electric bills in the area?

The electricity from Nottingham Solar will be sold on the wholesale market or through a power purchase agreement. Consumer electric rates are determined through a process between the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) and each electric distribution utility. As such, the project will not have any direct impact on local electric rates.

What angle will the panels be set at in the north-south direction when tracking east to west? How is this angle determined?

The north to south angle, which is often referred to as the tilt angle, will be zero because the rotational axis will be running along approximately parallel to the ground. PV panels will track from east to west. In the middle of the day at solar noon, the panels will be pointing directly up to the sky.

Are you still in negotiations with any landowners for access to their property?

The project has already signed the lease with the landowner of the property, upon which the project will be constructed.     

Where will the solar panels and related equipment be manufactured?

There are at least three main groups of equipment that will be used on this project: (1) inverters; (2) racking systems; and (3) solar panels.  The Project currently plans to obtain inverters from a company called Power Electronics.  The individual inverters are manufactured in Spain and then sent to Ohio for final package construction.   

The Project has yet to select the racking system for the solar panels.  We will be selecting a racking system manufactured by a U.S.-based company. 

Because solar panels are a global commodity, most solar panel manufacturers have operations established in the U.S. even if they are not headquartered in the U.S.  

The Project will also use smaller pieces of equipment, such as wiring or certain commodities. This smaller equipment typically will be sourced locally.

Will you be removing underground cables during the decommissioning?

At this time, the Ohio Power Siting Board (“OPSB”) typically requires removal of everything the project installs aboveground and anything buried underground up to 36 inches below the surface.  The decommissioning plan that the Project will file with its OPSB application will address the removal of underground cables.  

For sections of the Project that are located under wetlands, the Project does not intend to perform any decommissioning activities that will disturb the wetlands.The Project does not currently believe there are many wetlands within the Project area that will be impacted; however, the Project is continuing to analyze the layout of the Project area and will address any potential impacts in our decommissioning plan.

When the project is up and running, will there be lighting onsite?

For the vast majority of the array, there will be no lighting.  There will be some lighting at the substation.  It will be designed in such a way that the lights will come on only when someone is performing maintenance at the substation.  In addition, this substation lighting will be limited to a very small area, will minimize uplight to reduce impacts to wildlife, and will be designed to avoid any off-site light trespassing.  There will not be any lighting on poles that run all night. 

How many acres will the Project plan on using?

Although the Project has not finalized the exact amount of total acreage, we expect that there will be approximately 500 acres or less involved with the siting of the facilities on this Project.

When will the project be constructed?

As of now, the Project is expected to begin construction in April 2022.

How large is Nottingham Solar?

The Project will occupy roughly 500 acres and export roughly 100 MWac on the utility power grid.

Will the project increase traffic in the area?

Currently, we are preparing a study to assess the impact of traffic in the Project location. A link to the study will be posted on the Application Documents page of this website when complete.

Will any jobs be created by Nottingham Solar?

During the Project’s construction phase, approximately 400 jobs will be created.  The construction phase is expected to have a 9-month duration.  Once construction is complete, the Project’s operations phase is expected to create about 20 part-time/full-time long-term positions.

Is there a requirement that employees of the facility live in Ohio?

Yes. The OH state-legislated Payment in Lieu of Taxes (“PILOT”) program requires that at least 80% of the workforce be OH residents.

Will the project increase noise in the area?

Currently, we are preparing a study to assess the noise generated by Project operations. A link to the study will be posted on the Application Documents page of this website when complete.

How do I receive updates about the project?

Project updates will be posted on this website. The Frequently Asked Questions page will be updated periodically as interested parties submit questions.

What if I don’t want this around my property?

Contact information for BQ Energy Development and the OPSB is available on this website. We encourage you to reach out and discuss your concerns with the developer and the OPSB.

When people are opposed to solar projects, what issues are brought up?

People request feedback about a number of topics including noise, glare, property value, impacts to wildlife, impacts to drainage, and visual impacts. Discussions on these topics and report results are provided on this website.

What kind of technology do solar projects use?

Solar projects use conventional solar panels just like those installed on the roofs of homes and businesses. The panels are mostly glass, aluminum, silicon (refined sand), and a semi-conducting material. The technology has been around for decades. Monocrystalline solar panels are the most widely used solar photovoltaic technology in the industry. The panels are composed of silicon semiconductors and convert the highest amount of energy into electricity.

Who uses the electricity from the solar projects?

Electricity generated from this Project will be delivered into the utility electrical grid that supplies power to everyone.

Do solar projects require any community services?

In general, solar projects do not require community services.

Do solar projects pay taxes?

Yes, this Project will pay taxes.  Through the state-legislated Payment in Lieu of Taxes (“PILOT”) program, solar projects agree to an annual local tax payment of at least $7,000/MWac. Based on the Project size of 100 MWac, $700,000 will be added to local tax rolls. The majority of taxes will be paid to the School District (~59%) and the County (~26%). The remainder of taxes will be allocated to the Library, Township, JVS, and Health. Over 30 years, this Project will pay $21 million to the community.

Are there other economic benefits?

Construction of solar projects increases local spending at gas stations and food establishments, and most times, supply stores. Land rent payments to participating landowners also provides them a stable long-term source of income. Additionally, solar projects often will partner with local colleges and vocational schools during project construction to support workforce development programs.

Isn’t solar too expensive?

The cost of solar power projects has continued to fall. Since 2010, the cost of large solar power projects has fallen about 82%, with 13% in the last two years alone. The cost reductions over the last decade were due to technology improvements, supply chain competitiveness, and economies of scale.

How do solar facilities impact my property value?

There is no evidence that solar projects have a negative impact on property value. Examining property value in states across the country demonstrates that large-scale solar arrays often have no measurable impact on the value of adjacent properties.

Do solar projects produce any pollution?

No. Solar projects generate no air pollution, no water pollution, and no hazardous waste during operation. Panel materials are enclosed and do not mix with water or vaporize into the air, and there is no risk of chemical releases to the environment during normal use.  The panels do not require washing as the rain is sufficient to keep the panels clean.

I am concerned about electrical "noise" from inverters. Will we be able to hear our car radios if we drive near the farm?

Solar arrays do not interfere with communications. The weak electromagnetic fields (EMF) dissipate at short distances, and the low panel height prevents PV panels from interfering with line-of-sight microwave or radar communications. EMF from inverters, transformers, and collection lines are similar in strength to that of utility distribution systems, which are not typically known to impact broadcast communication sources.

What happens if lightning strikes the solar panels? Do they attract lightning strikes?

A lightning mast (tall lightning rod) is part of the collection substation structure to protect the equipment at the substation. The project will be constructed following electric code and components will be grounded. Outside of the substation, the Facility components will be shorter than many surrounding objects, and as such are not expected to attract lightning strikes.

How will this affect the wildlife near my property?

We are currently performing studies to address local wildlife and wetlands. A link to the study will be posted on the Application Documents page of this website when complete.

What does a solar project look like?

Solar projects have very low profiles and follow the natural contour of the land. They are often screened by naturally occurring vegetation such as trees.

Is there a completed project that you have built in this area?

Nottingham Solar would be one of the first solar projects in Ohio for BQ Energy. However, BQ Energy has four projects that are currently in development and should be operational around the same time as Nottingham Solar.

How long are the property leases for the project?

The property lease for Nottingham Solar has a base term of 20 years with a 10-year extension. It is not uncommon to enter into a new property lease after the original one expires. Solar projects are quite long-lived.

Do solar panels reflect sunlight?

Solar panels are designed to absorb as much sunlight as possible, and in most conditions reflect very little. This Project proposes single-axis trackers, rather than fixed tilt arrays, which typically do not reflect significant glare. An analysis will be completed using the FAA compliant Solar Glare Hazard Analysis Tool (SGHAT), licensed by ForgeSolar, to confirm minimal impact of glare. A link to the study will be posted on the Application Documents page of this website when complete.

What happens at the end of the useful life of the solar panels?

After the productive life of the panels, which can be at least 40 years, the solar project will be decommissioned. This means that all equipment will be removed from the site, and the land will be returned to its condition pre-construction.

Are there health risks from the electric and magnetic fields (EMF) from solar panels?

Solar energy produces no emissions, waste, odor, or byproducts. The weak EMF from PV arrays and collection lines is the same as the EMF people are exposed to from household electrical appliances and wiring in buildings.