Frequently asked questions

Who is involved?

Who is Clearway Energy?

Clearway is one of the Top 5 largest renewable energy companies in the United States. We are creating clean energy jobs, investing in communities where we work and live, and producing domestic, reliable and affordable power. Our fleet includes 11.8 GW of wind, solar, natural gas, and battery storage assets across 26 states - enough to power 2 million homes. Clearway Energy Group is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in Denver, Houston, Phoenix, Princeton, and San Diego. For more information, visit clearwayenergygroup.com.

Who is paying for the project?

Clearway Energy projects are entirely privately funded, bringing new investment into the communities where they are located.

No tax dollars go into building Clearway energy projects. Instead, the community gains new revenue through any local property, sales, or income taxes that the projects pay. This grows the budget for schools, first responders and other public services without increasing taxes for residents.

Land use & the environment

How does Clearway site projects responsibly?

Clearway strives to minimize potential impacts when siting projects by evaluating existing site conditions, land use restrictions, and state and federal databases and geographic information system (GIS) resources to look for protected species and habitat. Once a project site is selected, we conduct biological, cultural, and wetland resource studies to further understand the specific site conditions. The information gathered from environmental surveys is used to inform our site design so that our projects can avoid impacting sensitive resources to the extent practicable.

In siting the Chimney Canyon project, we are considering direct recommendations from the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Do solar farms release pollution into the land or water?

Solar panels are designed to be safe and durable for the long-term, made with the same kind of tempered glass found in hurricane-proof windows. Like your cellphone, they are designed to crack and not shatter. They also don’t contain fluids that can leak or pollute the soil or water, even if badly cracked, and no part of the panel is buried underground.

Small amounts of conductive metals are in solid form are either chemically bonded together or encased in tempered glass and plastic to prevent exposure to the environment. Clearway currently requires that all solar panels we procure undergo EPA Toxicity Characteristics Leaching Procedure (TCLP) testing to ensure no toxic leaching can occur, even if heavily damaged.

Learn more here: ACP_Solar-Panels_are_Safe-for-Your-Community_FactSheet.pdf

Does solar create more stormwater runoff and soil erosion?

Construction methods for most solar projects do not require intensive grading or contouring, and as a result, do not result in significant changes to the grade or permeability of the soils.

These projects typically do not have any asphalt (onsite access roads are made of compacted dirt and sometimes covered with gravel) and concrete is limited to locations where inverters are placed. Instead, Clearway plants natural vegetation under and around the panels, improving topsoil health and reducing erosion. The vegetation acts like a sponge, soaking up water and retaining it in the soil.

Additionally, solar farms are legally required to create and follow stormwater management plans with measures to control erosion and sedimentation under the Federal Clean Water Act. State and local agencies enforce this requirement.

How much water do solar farms use?

Solar farms use very little water during operations, beyond routine panel rinsing. No water is used to generate the power. Studies show solar has one of the lowest water-use footprints of any power source.

Do solar farms increase local temperatures?

Because solar panels absorb light, they can increase the ambient temperature similar to the way pavement does. A study from the University of Maryland, looking at solar sites in Arizona, found that temperature increases dissipate within 100 feet and are much lower than ambient temperature increases created by urban areas. Because this effect is so limited, it would not have an impact on wildlife or people.

Impacts for neighbors

Are solar and storage facilities safe?

As the long-term owner and operator of the site, Clearway prioritizes safety and durability from the very first designs through the 30 years of operation. The solar panels and battery equipment we source go through testing to ensure they meet all relevant codes and standards for safety and environmental health.
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Battery storage in particular is a highly regulated technology that enables energy to be dispatched when it’s needed most, contributing to a reliable and resilient grid. These projects must meet rigorous codes and standards to be permitted to operate. At Clearway, our projects use LFP battery cells that have enhanced reliability and safety features which significantly reduce risks at every step. Cells, Modules and Racks are tested for UL 9540A compliance.

There are well-established policies and procedures for handling unlikely occurrence of a fire at a solar farm or energy storage facility. Clearway will work ahead of time with local first-responders to develop a response and emergency management plan. The key steps and considerations for our emergency response plans include risk assessment, regulatory compliance, emergency response plan designs, emergency service training, and continuous improvement.

‍Check out this resource to learn how we incorporate safety every step of the way.

Do solar farms impact nearby property values?

That’s a common concern, but there’s no solid evidence that solar lowers nearby property values. In fact, a 2020 study by the University of Rhode Island found no consistent negative impact, and sometimes modest increases in property value, when solar is well-sited and buffered.

How much noise will the solar farm produce?

Once the project is operating, the project will produce minimal noise. Solar panels create no noise at all. Inverters and transformers typically have a low hum like an HVAC system, but can only be heard close to the equipment and usually not beyond the fence line. If a project is a tracking system, then the panels and racking will move throughout the day, but again the amount of noise produced is minimal and typically not heard by surrounding areas.

Site removal

What happens at the end of the project's life? Where does the equipment go?

In general, solar projects are scheduled to last for 25-45 years. Clearway Energy dismantles our solar farms at the end of their lives, with a commitment to recycling the solar panels used. The process includes safely disposing of or recycling materials such as solar panels and concrete, as well as restoring the land to its natural state by planting native vegetation.

Can solar panels be recycled?

Solarpanel recycling is growing fast. Glass, aluminum, and silicon—the primary components of a panel-- can all be recovered. Clearway commits to recycling all solar panels used at this project.

Why solar + storage

Frequently asked questions

Who is involved?

Land use & the environment

Impacts for neighbors

Site removal

Solar & storage learning resources

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