The Department of Environmental Quality issued new stormwater regs that limit the amount of runoff allowed by solar panels. Solar panels are impermeable surfaces that concentrate the flow of rainwater and lead to excessive runoff and flooding. This runoff flows into Virginia waterways and bays, including the Chesapeake Bay and the James River watershed, endangering plants and animals.
In addition to the dangers posed by impermeable solar panels, utility-scale solar project construction sites also produce far more runoff than cropland or forested land. DEQ estimates that large construction sites, such as utility-scale solar sites, will produce 200 times MORE stormwater runoff than agricultural land and 2,000 times MORE than forested land.
Look at this photo and you’ll see why:
Look at the land in between the solar panels, and you’ll see nothing but dirt and a few weeds. Rainwater flows from the panels onto the ground and then directly into our waterways.
Here are highlights from the Virginia Mercury’s article, Youngkin administration sets stricter runoff rules for solar farms:
- Local officials and environmental groups say the new rules will help account for how precipitation intersects with solar projects.
- This is important because 56% of Virginia lies in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, where runoff pollution is a major concern.
- Significant runoff problems have occurred with every large solar project in Virginia, including Essex Solar (Essex County) and Belcher Solar (Louisa County).
Read the DEQ regulations here: