Community Benefits of Utility-Scale Solar

Utility-scale solar facilities can have many benefits for communities. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), utility-scale solar generates solar power and feeds it into the grid, fulfilling both energy demands and climate goals. But what are the impacts of such large-scale projects on the communities that host them? The case of the Morris Ridge solar project shows how a community can benefit in multiple ways with a utility-scale project in their backyard.

EDF Renewables – a multi-national renewable energy company – has partnered with the Town of Mount Morris (Livingston County) to develop a 177 MWac solar facility, including 83 MW of energy storage. Slated to begin operations in 2023, this utility-scale solar will produce renewable electricity enough to power 38,000 New York households. The facility will be built on about 1,000 acres of leased land. In addition, the Town of Mount Morris will benefit both directly and indirectly from this project. At a virtual gathering on 19 April 2021, the town residents, EDF Renewables representatives and the United Solar Energy Supporters (USES) highlighted how the Town of Mount Morris will take advantage of solar initiatives. The following three types of benefits were discussed: 

Direct Payment Benefits: As a part of their deal with the EDF Renewables, the town, Livingston County and the local school board will receive $10 million dollars over the first 20 years for community development. This is expected to include support for scholarships for local students interested in pursuing renewable energy trades, support for local workforce development efforts for renewable energy projects, funding and grant awards to local organizations and projects, installation of vehicle charging stations on streets, etc

Employment Benefits: During the construction phase of this project in 2022-23, the project expects to employ 200 workers directly and can potentially lead to hundreds of indirect jobs within the township. In anticipation of these jobs, the Genesee Valley Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) has begun training students to be involved in the project, offering courses on electro-mechanics, construction and metal trades.

Related, and very importantly, the project expects to pay the prevailing rate of wage and supplements (fringe benefits) to all direct workers employed during the construction phase. Prevailing wage is the pay rate set by New York State law for work on public work projects. This applies to all laborers, workers or mechanics employed under a public work contract. For Livingston Country, the Prevailing Rate Schedule can be found here. By using prevailing rates, contractors that have access to union labor and apprenticeships should be able to compete for the project, further ensuring local labor will be prioritized.

Agrivoltaic Benefits: The community plans to plant pollinator-friendly wildflower fields or berry bushes underneath and around the panels benefits local beekeepers and farmers. The land can also be used for sheep and chicken grazing. EDF Renewable funded an economic study on the feasibility of such agrivoltaic benefits and found that the value of sheep and bee products will likely increase because of improved quality of lamb and honey production from the site.

In sum, the Morris Ridge Solar project seems to be on the right track to benefit the community. In fact, there are even more opportunities and potential benefits of opting for solar. For example:

• Two major solar energy projects are being planned on former landfilling sites in Yates County. These lands, otherwise deemed unusable, will now be used to generate 37 megawatts of solar power, and are expected to generate $200,000 every year in rent and more benefits in reduced electricity prices.
• Communities in the greater Rochester and Finger Lakes region have opted for the state’s first community choice aggregation (CCA) solar program^[1]. This program will potentially help the municipalities reduce costs of electricity generation and maximize the benefits of green energy for their communities and residents.