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We recently broke ground on solar facilities in Indianola and Waverly, Iowa. To give deeper insight into what these developments mean for Iowa, we reached out to Theresa Greenfield, Iowa's USDA Rural Development State Director. Community Benefits: "To me, these ambitious projects hold the promise of delivering cleaner energy at a lower cost so that consumers may have more money to invest in their businesses and their families." Community Reaction: "At a ground-breaking event in Indianola, Iowa, on September 25th, I spoke with several local residents who were looking forward to seeing how the solar installation under construction there might lower their power bills and help reduce pollution in the air that they breathe." Partnering with Sandhills Energy: "It's been so great to work with the folks from Sandhills Energy. Anytime a question comes up about a project, they respond quickly and efficiently." USDA Collaborations: "I want people to know that USDA is championing access to modern, clean energy and that we want to partner with organizations that are committed to clean energy and to helping increase our nation’s energy security."

If we can't clearly and compellingly describe the benefits that #solar developments can bring to rural communities, we're fighting an increasingly uphill battle in farm country. Importantly, distinguish between #agrivoltaic, community solar, and utility-scale projects. American Farmland Trust's research has found that there are drastically different perspectives on solar, depending on its scale and integration into existing agricultural operations. This article is a great snapshot of how the tension between the growth of solar energy deployment and the fabric of rural America is playing out in Pennsylvania communities.

A recent study by Loyola University highlights that large #solarfarms in the Midwest have little to no negative impact on nearby property values and may even boost them by 0.5% to 2%. Researcher Gilbert Michaud emphasizes that concerns about property values often stem from conceived ideas rather than hard data. By analyzing 70 solar projects, the study reveals that economic benefits, such as job creation and increased tax contributions, are likely to enhance property values more than aesthetic concerns. As solar development continues to expand, this data could help shift the conversation around solar farms, showcasing them as potential community assets rather than liabilities. Read more on the study here: https://ow.ly/OPxs50TLHCv

The grid can we revolutionised. Roof top solars on housing will bring cost of living down significantly. Making rental housing an affordable and appealing option without having to lower rent. Hon. Simon Watts has signalled the Corporates and investors to help meet our countries emissions target. It’s never been a better time to have private sector invest in Sustainability. . #emissions #solar #sustainability.

New Loyola University Chicago research shows that utility-scale solar projects in rural areas increase nearby property values. Researchers went on to point out that "smaller projects have more of a positive impact on nearby property values than projects that are 20 megawatts or larger." With Sun Tribe's focus on right-size, community-scale solar projects here in the Commonwealth and the surrounding region, our team and our projects are continually focused on how we can serve and support the communities in which we are privileged to operate. https://lnkd.in/gZXDWWrN

There are ~450,000 brownfields scattered across the U.S. These abandoned or underutilized sites, often contaminated by past industrial activities, have long been considered eyesores and environmental liabilities. However, a new wave of innovation is transforming these forgotten lands into "brightfields" – solar energy sites that harness the sun's power to generate clean energy. With the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) having identified at least 80,000 suitable brownfield sites and an estimated 15 million acres of such lands nationwide, the potential for brightfield☀️⚡️ development is promising. In New Jersey, the "Solar 4 All" program has resulted in 45MW of solar across eight former landfills and brownfields, powering around 7,500 homes annually. Even more impressively, Hanwha Q CELLS completed a 10.8MW solar farm on a Superfund site in Indianapolis without any additional grant funding, highlighting Brightfields' economic competitiveness. Several factors have contributed to the growth of solar development on brownfields, including favorable policies, increased demand for clean energy in urban regions, and new incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). But the real power of transforming brownfields into solar fields lies in the positive impact it can have on communities. It can breathe new life into communities, creating jobs and economic opportunities, and provide local residents and businesses with access to clean energy and lower electric bills. #environmentalcontent U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) HANWHA Q CELLS USA INC

While research consistently shows that residential solar increases property value, fewer studies have been done on properties surrounding solar farms. Meanwhile, Gilbert Michaud of Loyola University had attended many Midwestern community meetings about proposed solar projects and realized that the most common concern was their impact on property value.  So Michaud’s new study analyzed 70 Midwestern utility-scale solar projects’ impact on local property value – and found that they increased values by 0.5% to 2%. “These projects drive economic development in rural communities through jobs, tax contributions, etc., which in turn increase residential property values,” concludes Michaud.  At Ridgeline, we’re dedicated to land services that support sustainable development and positive outcomes for everyone – landowners, developers, and the surrounding community.  Read about this study here: https://buff.ly/4fpNZyx #RidgelineLandServices #RenewableEnergy #CleanEnergy #LandServices #RenewableEnergySector #RenewableEnergyIndustry

🚨🚨CBS News Chicago reporter Tara Molina brings news of a great program in Chicago that plans to train 1000 people for #cleanenergy jobs on the city’s South and West Sides, specifically #solar. For those of you not familiar with Chicago’s geography, the South and West Sides are working-class neighborhoods that are primarily populated by minorities. As Illinois Governor JB Pritzker says in the article, these neighborhoods often get overlooked when new economic development comes calling, so in partnership with 548 Enterprise and its founder AJ PATTON, the state of Illinois is trying to make up for lost time. I think Governor Pritzker and Illinois are providing a model that could easily be replicated in other big cities, bringing the #solar revolution to those who need it the most. Go read Tara’s article here.  https://lnkd.in/eQsn-C5h #Deliveringacleanenergyfuture #commercialsolar #communitysolar

NGIN / LADWP Solar Justice Round Table In western countries, on average, communities of color have less access to solar energy technology than white communities. A 2019 U.S. study indicates that even when income is taken out of the equation, communities of color have installed fewer rooftop solar facilities than predominantly white communities. According to Google’s Project Sunroof, which shows the potential for rooftop photovoltaic (PV) on 60 million buildings throughout the United States, there are many disparities and gaps in rooftop solar installations across racial and ethnic lines. In particular: - Communities with over 50% black residents have 69% less rooftop solar installed than tracts with no racial or ethnic majority - Communities with over 50% hispanic residents have 30% less installed - Communities with over 50% asian communities have 2% less solar installed - Communities with over 50% white communities have 21% more rooftop solar installed Panelists include: Fred Walti, President and CEO, NGIN Arash Saidi, P.E. Power Engineering Manager of Distributed Resource Development & Programs Andrea Leon-Grossmann, Deputy Program Director, West, Vote Solar Mel Bergsneider Executive Accounts, Allume Energy Daniel Komolafe, Founder, First Electric Register Today: https://lnkd.in/gE8QuigW #solar #solarenergy #solarenergyaccess #solarequity #cleanenergy #solarjustice #energyjustice #solarindustry #solarinnovation #solarrooftop #energypolicy

NGIN / LADWP Solar Justice Round Table In western countries, on average, communities of color have less access to solar energy technology than white communities. A 2019 U.S. study indicates that even when income is taken out of the equation, communities of color have installed fewer rooftop solar facilities than predominantly white communities. According to Google’s Project Sunroof, which shows the potential for rooftop photovoltaic (PV) on 60 million buildings throughout the United States, there are many disparities and gaps in rooftop solar installations across racial and ethnic lines. In particular: - Communities with over 50% black residents have 69% less rooftop solar installed than tracts with no racial or ethnic majority - Communities with over 50% hispanic residents have 30% less installed - Communities with over 50% asian communities have 2% less solar installed - Communities with over 50% white communities have 21% more rooftop solar installed Panelists include: Fred Walti, President and CEO, NGIN Arash Saidi, P.E. Power Engineering Manager of Distributed Resource Development & Programs @Andrea Leon-Grossmann, Deputy Program Director, West, Vote Solar Mel Bergsneider Executive Accounts, Allume Energy Daniel Komolafe, Founder, First Electric Register Today: https://lnkd.in/gE8QuigW #solar #solarenergy #solarenergyaccess #solarequity #cleanenergy #solarjustice #energyjustice #solarindustry #solarinnovation #solarrooftop #energypolicy