The Environmental Risks and Opportunities at Solar Sites
In its Clean
Energy Commitment, APS laid out a path that includes tripling the renewable energy provided
to customers in the next 10 years. Much of that goal will come from large solar
sites in the Arizona desert. But what about the environmental, sustainability
and governance (ESG) impact of those megawatts?
It may seem counterintuitive to ask about ESG for solar, since renewable
energy is considered good for the environment. But utility scale solar sites,
like other large developments, can have negative environmental effects depending
on how they are sited and maintained.
Rapid renewable buildout without careful siting and maintenance
can harm sensitive environments and community relationships. ESG issues at solar sites may be a blind spot
when company metrics are focused on total renewable or clean energy without a
biodiversity component.
Siting
The
Arizona desert has areas of high biodiversity that should be avoided during
development of renewable energy. Although all projects receive some
environmental review, the level of review depends on the landowners, regulators
and companies involved. This regulatory patchwork means that projects can be
approved while still having significant issues.
For
example, a large solar project in California was approved in prime desert
tortoise habitat, and the company involved spent
at least $56 million relocating the threatened species from its solar site. A
different species of desert tortoise lives in AZ, but resource managers here
are also concerned about impacts from development.
AZ Game and Fish (AZGFD), in their Guidelines
For Solar Development in AZ, call for avoiding areas of high
biodiversity, with a preference for already-degraded sites. By using land that
has already been impacted by farming or mining, utility solar development can
avoid many of the environmental risks associated with building on pristine
landscapes.
Maintenance
Solar sites in the desert are usually maintained as bare ground,
which involves regular application of herbicides to control any sprouting
vegetation. Unfortunately, bare ground can concentrate and channel water,
leading to runoff, erosion, and water pollution. And when it doesn’t rain, dust
from the bare ground can lower air quality and soil the solar panels, reducing
their efficiency.
The AZGFD Guidelines call for native plant revegetation of areas
not necessary for facility maintenance. Revegetating parts of the sites with
native plant species provides valuable habitat for pollinators and other native
flora and fauna. AZGF notes that revegetation can also help control or prevent
erosion, siltation and air pollution by stabilizing soil surfaces.
Challenge as Opportunity
The International
Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) states that “solar
developments can demonstrate good environmental stewardship through
conservation and rehabilitation of local biodiversity.”
Across the US, solar sites are increasingly evaluated for overall
sustainability, including impact to biodiversity. For example, 15
US states have already created environmental scorecards for solar energy sites.
Sites with native vegetation that benefits pollinators and other species are
rated higher.
Including best management practices (BMPs) in the siting and
maintenance of solar sites, such as those in AZGFD Guidelines, can help ensure
that solar sites don’t contribute to environmental degradation and are part of
the environmental solution they are intended to be.
By proactively addressing these challenges, utilities can show
commitment to ESG values while reducing potential conflicts and costs.
Further reading:
