Frequently Asked Questions
How big is the project
Nectar Solar is 3 MWac and will produce enough electricity to power 500 homes. The total project area will comprise about 19 acres of the 36-acre timber tract. The 19 acres encompass a dense band of vegetation to ensure the solar panels are obscured from the road and surrounding properties
How did Hexagon Energy select the project site?
We chose this project site after a detailed and thorough review of the area. The project is a good location to interconnect to our electrical grid and is sited on private land that has mature trees and vegetation that provide natural visual screening and is not used for farming.
Will I be able to see the array?
No. Hexagon is designing the project with view-shed impacts top of mind. Vegetation buffers ranging from 50 to 600 feet will be used around the project's perimeter so none of the neighbors or those passing by can see it.
How tall are the panels?
At maximum tilt (i.e., early morning or late afternoon), the panels will be approximately 8 feet high.
Do the panels produce glare?
Solar panels are designed to absorb light, not reflect it. Just like any surface, the sun must be at a very low angle to the panel to produce glare. Trackers follow the sun so that the sun hits the panels as directly as possible, further reducing the chance of glare.
Will I be able to hear the array?
No. The equipment is not audible outside the project area. The only equipment on-site that produces noise are the inverters spread throughout the site, which convert DC power to AC power. They have mechanical parts and a fan to keep them cool. When operating (only in the daytime), they can produce sound rated at 56 dB, the equivalent sound rating of a normal conversation. The inverters are quieter than outdoor air conditioning units, which are rated at over 60 dB. At 50’ from the inverter, the sound rating falls to less than 30dB, which is the background noise level in a rural area.
Are solar panels safe?
Solar panels are perfectly safe. Even though we’ve only recently seen wider installation of photovoltaic (PV) technologies, PV technology, and its potential impacts have been studied since the 1950s. PV panels with the same basic components have been installed, monitored, and inspected worldwide for over 30 years. The same types of solar panels are installed on our children’s schools, hospitals, and homes.
How will the project manage erosion & sediment control and stormwater run-off?
A licensed civil engineering firm will conduct erosion and sediment control analysis and design. We will work with Rockingham County and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to develop a final stormwater and sediment control plan that meets or exceeds all federal, state, and county stormwater and sediment control regulations.
Will the project impact wetlands?
No. A wetland delineation was performed, and there are no wetlands within our project area.
How will Rockingham benefit from this project?
An estimated 20 new construction jobs will be created, with 1-2 workers supported for the project's life. Rockingham will see economic benefits and tax revenue over the project's life. Additionally, smaller, distributed solar farms reduce the burden on our transmission power lines, helping to avoid costly upgrades that increase our power bills.
How will this impact my power bill?
Electricity usage in Virginia is increasing, and solar farms represent the cheapest technology for new power projects in Virginia. Electricity prices are set by blending the price for all our different forms of energy production. As the lowest cost option, solar farms will help to keep power prices lower than using other power production technology and fuels.
How will the project equipment be maintained?
An operations team will perform regular quarterly inspections of all equipment, including panels, inverters, racking, wiring, and monitoring systems. The system is remotely monitored 24/7, meaning it is always under supervision without the need for regular maintenance crews or people on site. If issues are detected, an operations team will be dispatched to the site to address them.
How is the vegetation within the project area maintained?
Grass is planted during construction to provide soil stability and erosion control. The grass is mowed periodically throughout the growing season to ensure it does not grow tall enough to shade the bottoms of the solar panels. Herbicides or other chemicals are not used.
Are chemicals used to clean solar panels?
No. We receive sufficient rain throughout the year in Rockingham County to keep the panels clean.
What happens when it’s time to retire the project?
When it’s time to decommission a solar project, all project equipment is removed, and the land is returned to pre-project conditions. Money is set aside from the start of construction to ensure adequate funds are available for decommissioning. The County can draw on these funds if the project fails to act.