Solar Development and Wetland Regulation
The installations of solar “farms”, vast arrays of solar panels, can be seen throughout the state and can generate up to a megawatt of
In the past, the posts/pilings that are used to install solar arrays have not been considered a wetland impact that would require compensatory mitigation under the WCA. The reality is that solar arrays bring wetlands into non-aquatic use and may, or may, not negatively impact the wetland's quality or function.
The 2.7GW Westlands Solar Park, one of the world's largest solar power plants, is being developed in the San Joaquin Valley in California, US. CIM Group in collaboration with Westside Holdings is developing the solar park in phases. The environmental impact assessment for the project was completed.
Having baseline data about wetland vegetative quality under solar panels is beneficial to both regulators and developers. Regulators will have a scientific basis for making wetland impact determinations within their jurisdiction and developers will see more consistency across municipalities during the permitting process.
To help local governments evaluate the potential impacts to a wetland's function and value, the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) issued guidance that provides a suggested approach for evaluating projects when they involve the installation of solar panels on posts/pilings in wetlands.
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