As more power providers invest in utility-scale concentrating solar power (CSP) and solar photovoltaic (PV) plants across the U.S., some citizens and activist groups have cited environmental and sustainability concerns for certain projects. In order to test public opinion, it was evaluated in a recent poll released last week by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Gotham Research Group indicating that utility-scale projects on public lands that have not been designated as preserves possess a mandate of approval among Americans. In general, numerous polls conducted over the last year show high levels of public support for green energy policies as opposed to issues such as health care, which has waned in recent months.
The researchers in this poll surveyed 500 random U.S. adults over 18 years old and found that 75 percent of those surveyed support large solar projects. Moreover, 40 percent state that they strongly support such projects. According to the survey, that support spans across all demographics and political parties, based on polling conducted from February 24 through February 26 with a margin of error of +/- 4.4 percent.
Amid the favorable opinion for utility-scale solar, there are still many challenges facing the industry such as: temporary tax credits, new lobbyist regulations, slow permitting processes, regulatory overlap among state and federal agencies, water and land-rights disputes, transmission connectivity and financing. Over the last year, some environmental groups have raised concerns about the sustainability and environmental impact of solar thermal and solar PV plants located in forested areas, leading to critical delays and in some cases eliminating 2010 construction starts required for stimulus tax credits. CSP requires ample water resources and many plants, especially in drought-riddled remote desert areas of Arizona, where performance and cost-benefit merits are enhanced, require extensive transmission line construction across state or federal land, which may affect wildlife patterns as well.
Nonetheless, the SEIA estimates that more than 200 megawatts (MW) of utility-scale solar PV and CSP projects will come online in 2010, creating tens of thousands of jobs. In comparison, this would be a 129 percent increase over last year, which led to five plants totaling 58 MW being connected to the nation’s power grid. Furthermore, the SEIA has stated that there are more than 100 more projects that have been announced, mostly in the Southwest in places such as Arizona, which represent 17,000 MW. SEIA's president Rhone Resch believes that these projects could create 100,000 direct and indirect domestic temporary and permanent jobs.
In opposition to the opinion or marketing of some in the industry, there is no magic bullet for solar technology, and a portfolio of solar power generation products will be required in conjunction with a portfolio of clean energy sources to meet renewable energy portfolio standards for states. As diversified as the landscape is across the U.S. -that also offers advantages and disadvantages for centralized and decentralized PV versus CSP options. Furthermore, subsets of technologies will remain in demand over the long haul driven by specific application and performance requirements, as in the case of flexible solar panels for building integrated PV such as solar shingles versus utility-scale solar farms.
Strategic initiatives for best practices in large-scale utility and community-scale solar development will be studied in joint partnerships between the U.S., China and India, the new National Renewable Energy Lab Strategic Energy Analysis Institute, U.S. Department of Energy and by renewable energy information agencies, which will be the topic of an upcoming article.
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