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In addition to the unique characteristics listed below, there are a few other factors that should be considered when evaluating farmland for a community solar farm. These factors include the soil quality, the slope of the land, and the presence of any environmental constraints, such as wetlands or endangered species. 

Does your land also satisfy the following criteria?  If so or if unsure, please schedule time with us to discuss. Visit our Blog for the latest news.

Community solar farms should be located in areas that are not visible from local residences. This is to minimize the impact of the solar farm on the surrounding community and to protect the privacy of residents.

WR community solar farms typically require at least 20 acres of land, pluse at least 50% more set aside for farming.  This is due to economies of scale.  For example, the cost per kilowatt-hour of electricity generated from a community solar farm is typically lower for larger farms.

The solar farm should not take up more than 60% of the total property. This is to ensure that the farmer still has enough land to use for other purposes, such as farming or grazing.

The land must be properly zoned for solar development. This means that the local government must have approved the use of the land for solar energy.

Ideally, the solar farm should be within 5 miles of a substation (although it can be further). This is because the solar farm will need to be connected to the electrical grid in order to sell its energy.

A substation may include transformers to change voltage levels between high transmission voltages and lower distribution voltages, or at the interconnection of two different transmission voltages. They are a common component of the infrastructure. 

When a solar farm is located next to existing transmission lines, the interconnection costs can be much lower, along with the following benefits:

• Increased efficiency: Three-phase transmission lines can carry more electricity than single-phase lines. This means that a solar farm connected to a three-phase line can deliver more electricity to customers with less energy loss.

• Improved reliability: Three-phase transmission lines are less vulnerable to outages than single-phase lines. This means that a solar farm connected to a three-phase line can provide more reliable electricity to customers.