Solar Development from an Environmental Consultant’s Lens
Solar development is gaining recognition as a key player in the renewable energy field. However, the journey toward creating environmentally sustainable solar projects is filled with challenges. Drawing from my background as an environmental consultant to my current position as a solar development manager, I am navigating this landscape by balancing the essential goals of protecting local environments and community identities with the demands of renewable development.
The Consultant’s Perspective
I was raised near the Ashokan Reservoir, which was constructed in the early 1900s. Initially, the project displaced portions of a community to provide New York City with clean drinking water. Today, it stands as a testament to the long-term benefits of collective action for a greater cause.
Building The Ashokan Reservoir
The Ashokan Reservoir holds 122.9 billion gallons of water at full capacity and supplies approximately 40% of New York City’s daily drinking water needs in non-drought periods.
My mission as an environmental consultant fresh out of college was clear-cut — protecting critical ecosystems and minimizing community impact from proposed projects. I identified and mapped wetlands and vernal pools, crucial for their ecological functions including water retention and wildlife habitat. I mapped the locations of protected species, ensuring that renewable development wouldn't jeopardize their valuable habitats and broader ecosystems. My work also involved coordinating with subject matter experts as they conducted their own studies, and ensuring their compliance with regulations, from the initial ecological surveys to more community-based assessments such as visual and noise impact analyses, and cultural and environmental justice studies. Then began my journey providing consultations with agencies and authorities directly; preparation of large permitting applications.
Balancing Conservation and Development
The transition from consultant to developer hasn't altered my priorities but has offered a broadened perspective. Today, my role includes safeguarding natural resources and integrating solar projects to enhance community and environmental welfare. This means designing projects that coexist harmoniously with their surroundings, which can occur by way of adjusting array layouts to avoid sensitive areas or proposing landscaping that both screens solar arrays and supports and enhances local aesthetics.
This delicate balance extends to collaborating with landowners, utilities, and municipal agencies to ensure projects are responsibly planned. Working with our engineers and external stakeholders, we tailor solar project designs to fit into and work with their environments, respecting waterbodies, protected species, and community character.
Case Study in Raptor Conservation
Recently, a project’s design was adjusted to work around the location of a protected species. As a result of past raptor survey work as a consultant, I knew that the calls of bald eagles are quiet squeaks like a seagull, unlike the drawn-out screech of the common red-tailed hawk, which is often incorrectly associated with the bald eagle. Recognising the subtle squeak during a field walk of a future solar site led to the discovery of a nearby bald eagle’s nest. Consequently, we coordinated with appropriate agencies and modified the project design to minimize potential disruption to the nest, preserving the habitat while still allowing for responsible solar development.
Other Lessons from the Field and the Office
While conducting wetland delineations in Maine and New York, I understood plant species, topography, and soil characteristics that indicate wetlands' potential presence. But most importantly, and an item I am often reminded of as a developer, is safety. It is imperative to have the proper personal protective equipment, prepare for long days and varied weather conditions, and have a check in/check out system in place.
The foundation of environmental consulting lies in conducting field work, critical issues analyses, agency consultations, and developing local, state, and federal permit applications. This provides the basis for knowing what to look for in the ideal solar site. Throughout all projects I’ve worked on, experience has reinforced the importance of thorough environmental analyses and early engagement with stakeholders, ensuring mutual benefits for the projects as well as the environments and communities in which they reside.
Conclusion
Like the reservoir where I was raised, in solar development, we're tasked with balancing immediate local community and environmental concerns against broader climate objectives. Navigating the "warring goals" of renewable energy development and environmental preservation is indeed challenging but not insurmountable. The lessons learned as an environmental consultant are invaluable in my current role, helping to inform strategies that respect both community and ecological needs.
The challenges before us are substantial, but by leveraging insights from both conservation and development perspectives, we can achieve a balance that serves both local communities and global climate goals. This delicate equilibrium is not just possible; it is essential for sustainable progress.
Thoughtful planning, early engagement, and respect for the natural world are key to successful and sustainable solar development. Let's continue striving towards a future where renewable energy and environmental stewardship go hand in hand. We should always keep in mind the importance of collaboration and cooperation between various stakeholders to ensure responsible and sustainable solar development. Additionally, leveraging the expertise of environmental consultants can aid in creating solutions that benefit both local communities and the environment. Let's work towards a future where clean energy sources like community solar projects are developed with utmost consideration for our planet, and let's continue advocating for responsible renewable energy development to strive towards a more sustainable world.
Meet up with Olivia on the road, in your town! Olivia does a lot of traveling, visiting clients all over the northeast.
Reach out and find out when she will be in your area!
Olivia Feldman, Development Manager
Olivia is available to speak about: local permitting, interconnection, environmental considerations, policy. Contact Meghan Welborn, Director of Marketing & PR for press inquires and speaking enagagements for Olivia and the Lightstar team.
