Development and Post-Development

4. Is permitting required for the project?

Yes, the project will be permitted in accordance with the federal, state and local rules and regulations. Permitting requirements vary based on the specific location, design layout and activities of the project. Permitting spans all four phases of the project life cycle including Development, Construction, Operations, and Decommissioning.

Design and permitting are critical to ensure that the project reflects best industry design, construction and safety practices. Further, both design and permitting are scrutinized during project financing and assessed in detail by independent consultants and investors. As a result, there is significant oversight over the project from both applicable regulators as well as the private financing sector.

5. What studies have been completed at the site?

Weser Solar has completed a complex set of due-diligence studies to understand all aspects of the land, including its subsurface. Site studies ranged from environmental due diligence (aquatic resource delineation, habitat assessment for threatened and endangered species, cultural survey) to engineering studies (topographical, hydrology, geotechnical evaluations), and other studies as required by the specific conditions of the site. The primary goal of site studies was to identify potential sensitive areas within the project site and mitigate project impact through avoidance or targeted design and project implementation strategies.

6. How will stormwater be managed?

During the development phase, the project will complete a thorough hydrologic and hydraulic analysis of the site. The project will design effective stormwater management systems to ensure that the post-development scenario matches the pre-development conditions.

Pollutant discharges to surface waters are regulated by the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. Prior to the start of construction, the projects will develop a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWP3) and obtain a TPDES Construction General Permit from TCEQ. The SWP3 outlines best management practices (BMP’s) during and post-construction to meet applicable water quality standards and minimize pollutants in the discharge to receiving surface waters.

Post-construction, the project site will be revegetated with native low-growth seed mix. This allows for proper soil stabilization and effective long-term erosion control and water quality management.

7. What will the project do to mitigate the risk of contamination or fire from battery storage systems?

The battery energy storage system (BESS) technology and associated design and testing requirements have advanced significantly in recent years. With the increased deployment of BESS technologies across the world and reports of failures in past years, the industry has focused a considerable effort and resources on fire safety, mitigation, and prevention. The result has been a robust improvement in BESS fire safety.

There are two main types of lithium-ion battery chemistries considered for the project – (a) Lithium-Ferro-Phosphate (LFP), and (b) Lithium-Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt (NMC). Unlike lead-acid or flow batteries, lithium-ion battery cells are hermetically sealed and do not spill or leak electrolytes or other liquids even if the cells are ruptured.

All project BESS facilities will be designed, tested, and operated in accordance with the established best industry standards and practices. There are several ways a project can minimize the risk of BESS fire, including the steps outlined below. Weser Solar will deploy all of the identified strategies to ensure that the facility operates safely and as designed.

Additionally, the project will develop a site-specific Emergency Response Plan (ERP), review this plan with local fire departments and first responders and recommend periodic training to ensure all parties are aligned on process and procedure in the case of a fire event. 

POST-DEVELOPMENT

8. Do modules leach heavy metals into the environment?

No, solar modules are designed to provide safe, clean and affordable energy for the useful life of the panel. Information and evidence to date does not indicate a public health threat from solar modules to the environment.

9.  What happens at the end of the project?

At the end of its useful life, the solar facility will be decommissioned in accordance with a site-specific Decommissioning Plan and individual components removed from the site and recycled or repurposed offsite.