Solar Fact Check - References

Videos Demonstrating Impact Resistance

https://youtu.be/4T6VbzC889k

https://youtu.be/hR0dHl58zwE

Lead Content Comparisons

A 12-gauge shotgun shell contains ~1 ounce of lead (https://www.fws.gov/uploadedFiles/FAQsfortheweb.pdf).

The average solar panel has ~12 grams, or <½ an ounce, of lead, mostly in the soldering (“Recent facts about photovoltaics in Germany,” Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, section 22.1, available at: https://www.ise.fraunhofer.de/content/dam/ise/en/documents/publications/studies/recent-facts-about-photovoltaics-in-germany.pdf).  As referenced below, unlike the lead in shotgun shells which are regularly distributed annually across many farm fields by hunters, the lead in solar panels is encapsulated within an airtight, waterproof, and shatter resistant envelope mounted off the ground.  A typical 32 lb car battery contains 8.7 kg of lead (Linden, David; Reddy, Thomas B., eds. (2002). Handbook Of Batteries (3rd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. p. 23.5. ISBN 978-0-07-135978-8, available at: https://dl.icdst.org/pdfs/files/b334382400c223631bea924f87b0a1ba.pdf). 

Thin Film Photovoltaic Technology FAQ

First Solar, “Thin Film Photovoltaic Technology FAQ,” available at: https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Project-Documents/First-Solar-Thin-Film-Photovoltaic-FAQ.ashx.

Assessment of the Risks Associated with Thin Film Solar Panel Technology

Assessment of the Risks Associated with Thin Film Solar Panel Technology”, Virginia Tech Center for Coal and Energy Research, March 8, 2019, p. 5, available at: https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/handle/10919/90197.

Health and Safety Impacts of Solar Photovoltaics

North Carolina State University, “Health and Safety Impacts of Solar Photovoltaics” (May 2017), p. 9, available at: https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/health-and-safety-impacts-of-solar-photovoltaics.

Fate and Transport Evaluation of Potential Leaching Risks from Cadmium Telluride Photovoltaics

Sinha, P., Balas, R., Krueger, L., and Wade, A. Fate and Transport Evaluation of Potential Leaching Risks from Cadmium Telluride Photovoltaics. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. doi: 10.1002/etc. 1865. (2012), available at: https://setac.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/etc.1865. 

Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System

An example is the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System in California’s Mojave Desert: http://www.brightsourceenergy.com/ivanpah-solar-project.

A preliminary assessment of avian mortality at utility-scale solar energy facilities in the United States

Walston, L.J. , Jr. et al., Renewable Energy, “A preliminary assessment of avian mortality at utility-scale solar energy facilities in the United States” (2015), p. 411-412, and Table 2, available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2016.02.041

Why Solar Power Is Good for Birds

Smithson-Stanley, Lynsy, and Liz Bergstrom, “Why Solar Power Is Good for Birds”, Audubon Society, January 9, 2017, available at: https://www.audubon.org/news/why-solar-power-good-birds

Example Preliminary Stormwater Assessment

Hull and Associates, LLC, Preliminary Stormwater Assessment, Application Exhibit K, OPSB Case No. 21-0164-EL-BGN, available at: https://dis.puc.state.oh.us/ViewImage.aspx?CMID=A1001001A21H06B01450A00578

Example Recent OPSB Certificate (Case No. 20-1288-EL-BGN):

https://dis.puc.state.oh.us/DocumentRecord.aspx?DocID=8acdd150-4439-4528-8c59-a3beb054b269

Example Preliminary Drain Tile Assessment

https://dis.puc.state.oh.us/ViewImage.aspx?CMID=A1001001A21H06B05956E00616

School Funding Code Relevant to PILOT

See Ohio Revised Code, Title 33 Education-Libraries, Chapter 3317 Foundation Program, available at: https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/chapter-3317.

Questions and Answers, Ground-Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Systems

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

Property Value Impacts of Commercial-Scale Solar Energy In Massachusetts and Rhode Island

Guar, Vasundhara and Corey Lang, “Property Value Impacts of Commercial-Scale Solar Energy In Massachusetts and Rhode Island”, Department of Environmental and Natural Resource Economics, University of Rhode Island, September 29, 2020. (“...developments on farm and forest lands in rural areas have no impact on nearby properties” p.18), available at: https://web.uri.edu/coopext/files/PropertyValueImpactsOfSolar.pdf.

Example Preliminary Landscape Plan

MKSK Studios, Preliminary Landscape Plan, Exhibit X to Application, OPSB Case No. 21-0164-EL-BGN, available at: https://dis.puc.state.oh.us/ViewImage.aspx?CMID=A1001001A21H06B05348I00612