www.thetrevarresgroup.com
2020
2-6 MW Solar Power Farm Study 248 Patterson Road Macon, GA
www.thetrevarresgroup.com
Table of Contents.
01 Introduction Planning and Approvals
02 Stage One: Site Selection
03
Land
00
Grid Connection Solar Irradiation
05-06
04
Climatic Conditions
Cloud Coverage Temperatures
07 Environmental and Planning Constraints Cultural Significance and Ecological Values
08
Local, State, and Federal Assessment Requirements and Approvals
Environmental and Planning Constraints
Conclusion
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Introduction 01
The Trevarres Group is proposing to convert a 15.13-acre timber farm located in rural Jones County, GA in to a 2-6 MW solar power generating facility. The goal would be to connect the solar installation to the power grid and sell electricity back to your utility company.
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The proposed solar farm will go through six distinctive stages of development. The stages consist of site selection, feasibility, detailed assessment, construction, operation, and end of life management. This study is focused on stage one, the site selection, to showcase the site’s potential for solar operation.
Planning and Approvals Georgia does not have any state licensing requirements; the State Licensing Board does not regulate solar installations. So, it will be the role of the Jones County government officials to set the preferred strategic direction for the proposed development.
development by the Jones County Planning and Zoning Department on September 16, 2019. On October 1, 2019, the Jones County Board of Commissioners met and voted to grant a conditional use for a solar farm on the 15.13-acre property off Patterson Rd.
Our team has had early engagement with the local Jones County council to gather a better understanding of the social context; alignment between the project and council objectives; community sentiment; and access issues that may occur. Next, the proposed solar farm was approved for
Note, there has been consent from the property owners Roosevelt and Ellistine Thompson, which was necessary before submitting a development application to the local council. Currently, the Trevarres Group and the Thompson family are in the process of finalizing a land lease option agreement.
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02 Stage One: Site Selection Our team began this project by investigating the area’s potential for a solar farm. First, our goal was to identify whether the site has the fundamental characteristics for operating a solar farm, in addition to any technical, environmental, or cultural heritage issues or constraints. Lastly, we determined if the site area is suitable for further investigations
The 15.13 acres of land is in rural Jones County, GA; east of Bibb County and south of Milledgeville, GA. The site is boarded by Patterson Road to the south, the Central of Georgia Railroad Company’s Athens to Macon rail line to the North and the Savannah to Macon rail line to the east. Figure 1 illustrates the site location. The proposed site has a relatively flat
as part of the feasibility stage. Desktop and field studies were used during the site selection process. Key technical criteria our team considered was whether the proposed land was suitable; the proximity the land is to a suitable grid connection point; and the irradiation levels and climatic conditions.
topography, with a 0.9% slope. There will be a low risk of flooding due to no existing streams, wetlands, or drainage systems. Also, environmental constraints are minimal. The area is free of any building or landscape features that could cause overshadowing. It is also free of any geological, ecological, archaeological, or conservation designations. See Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5 for more site details.
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Grid Connection
03
There is a three-phase Macon Tie Line Distribution Line for both Bibb and Jones Counties located south of the site. The power lines will make the site feasible to connect the solar arrays to a centralized power source or the power grid. Further investigations will be necessary to determine how much capacity can be added to the distribution lines. See Figure 6 and 7 for more details.
Figure 6 - Three Phase Distribution Line, Property on the Left
Figure 7 - Three Phase Distribution Line, Property on the Right
Solar Irradiation Overall, the site has proper irradiation levels. The average yearly peak sun hour is 5.2. The average winter peak sun hour – 4.7, spring – 5.8, summer – 5.6, and fall – 4.8. Figure 7 - Three Phase Distribution Line, Property on the Right The site has a degree of latitude of 32.8. Adjusting the tilt twice a year will give a meaningful boost in energy. The optimal angles of tilt are 48 degrees for the winter; and 9.5 degrees for the summer. The best dates to adjust the summer tilt angle will be March 30th, and September 10th for the winter angle.
Climatic Conditions Annual Rainfall Most state-wide averages of annual rainfall range from a high of 63.7 inches to a low of 9.5 inches. In the year 2018, the proposed site had a total rainfall amount of 49.06 inches, with a monthly average of 4.09 inches. So far, the total amount of rainfall for 2019 is 33 inches and monthly average is 3.30 inches. Monthly totals are shown in Table 1 and Table 2.
Annual Rainfall (2018) Total Liquid Month Content (TLC - in.) January 2.14 February 3.49 March 2.65 April 4.99 May 6.99 June 3.32 July 6.37 August 1.63 September 1.02 October 4.62 November 5.58 December 6.26
Annual Rainfall (2019) Total Liquid Content Month (TLC in.)
Table 1 - Annual Rainfall 2018
Table 2 - Annual Rainfall 2019
January February March April May June July August September October
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6.15 1.37 1.52 2.9 1.47 4.39 3.40 6.19 0.02 5.59
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Cloud Coverage The sky condition data collected for the site was based on a daily average taken between the times of 8 am – 5 pm for the years of 2018 and 2019. The annual cloud coverage for the year of 2018 was measured out to be 3.37 oktas, referring to scattered clouds whereabout half the sky is covered. So far, in 2019, the annual cloud coverage is measured out to be 2.55 oktas, where few clouds are present. The monthly averages of cloud coverages for 2018 and 2019 are shown below in Table 3 and 4.
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2018 Cloud Coverage (Sky Conditions) Month Coverage Layer Amount (oktas) January FEW 2.32 February BKN 5.21 March SCT 3.19 April SCT 3.16 May SCT 3.42 June FEW 2.72 July SCT 3.17 August SCT 3.40 September SCT 3.49 October FEW 2.48 November SCT 4.02 December SCT 3.90 Table 3 - Cloud Coverage 2018
2019 Cloud Coverage (Sky Conditions) Month Coverage Layer Amount (oktas) January SCT 3.24 February BKN 5.33 March FEW 2.67 April FEW 2.13 May FEW 2.78 June SCT 3.19 July SCT 3.03 August FEW 2.97 September FEW 1.70 October SCT 3.54 Table 4 - Cloud Coverage 2019
Temperatures The yearly averages were taken for the daily maximum, minimum, and average temperatures. For 2018, the daily temperature averages were maximum – 77.50, minimum – 55.50, and average – 66.10. In 2019, the daily temperature averages were maximum – 82.70, minimum – 57.60, and average – 70.10. Please note, the months of November and December were excluded from the calculations. The monthly averages for both 2018 and 2019 are shown below in Table 5 and 6, along with a seasonal breakdown.
Temperatures (2018) Month Maximum (⁰F) Minimum (⁰F) January 56.4 30.5 February 70.2 50.4 March 68.6 43.0 April 75.0 47.5 May 85.5 64.2 June 91.8 69.2 July 91.4 71.2 August 91.7 70.5 September 94.0 70.2 October 81.0 56.9 November 63.8 42.5 December 60.7 41.0
Average (⁰F) 43.4 60.3 55.8 61.2 74.9 80.5 81.3 81.1 82.1 68.9 53.1 50.8
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Table 5 - Temperatures 2018
Temperatures (2019) Maximum (⁰F) Minimum (⁰F) Month January 60.1 37.4 February 66.8 44.8 March 69.6 43.4 April 79.0 51.6 May 90.6 63.5 June 91.3 68.4 July 95 70.7 August 94.0 71.5 September 94.0 65.9 October 83.8 58.5
Average (⁰F) 48.8 55.8 56.5 65.3 77.1 79.9 82.9 82.8 81.1 71.2
Table 6 - Temperatures 2019
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Environmental and Planning Constraints
07
At the site selection stage, our team also investigated potential environmental and planning constraints that could affect the viability of the proposed solar farm. These potential environmental and planning constraints include the cultural significance and ecological values; any local, state, and federal assessment requirements and approval triggers; and visual amenity and proximity to sensitive receptors or urban areas.
Cultural Significance and Ecological Values Per the Environmental Conservation Online System provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agency, there are no critical habitats for threatened and endangered species surrounding the site area. In addition to there not being any wildlife and environmental contaminants present.
Local, State, and Federal Assessment Requirements and Approvals Currently, there are no local, state, and federal assessment requirements and approval triggers that applies to the site.
Environmental and Planning Constraints Our team is aware that under the current system, visual amenity and proximity to sensitive receptors or urban areas must be a factor in planning decisions. Surrounding residential dwellings, roads, and the existing landscape character was taken into consideration. To the right of the site, lies a residential property 110-ft away, owned by the owners of the proposed site. The Lena Haynes Estate is 25-30-ft southeast of the site. Also, southeast of the site is the Alexander and Mattie Newton’s property, 40-ft away. Lastly, the residential property of Tony and Patricia sits 500- ft north of the site. The residential dwellings will not be considered sensitive receptors to the proposed development. It is safe to say that the proposed development will not affect the living conditions of the surrounding residents, regarding the
effects of noise, dust, access to daylight, vibration, shadow flickers, outlook and visual amenities. The only major road in proximity of the site is Patterson Rd. Patterson Rd will not be a sensitive receptor because views will not be altered for vehicle occupants. There will be minimal impacts on existing landscape characteristics within the environment that would result in noticeable changes.
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Overall, the proposed activity would efficiently integrate with the existing environment, and there will be a minimal number of or no sensitive receptors with potential views or land impacts of the proposed activity.
Conclusion We hope the information provided was enough to show why the proposed site would be an excellent addition to diversify your portfolio of energy resources to reliably and affordably serve customers and communities with a focus on reducing CO2 emissions. If you wish to proceed with us in bringing this project to fruition, our team’s next step would be to move forward with implementing a project feasibility plan. At the feasibility stage, our team will determine the physical and financial viability of the project. The feasibility stage will involve developing a preliminary site layout and finalizing formal agreements for site access and lease with landowners. If necessary, an increased physical site presence to undertake technical feasibility studies (e.g., geotechnical investigations, topographical surveys, flora, and fauna surveys). Lastly, the development of an approvals strategy to avoid, minimize, mitigate, or offset any constraints and issues identified at the site selection stage. We look forward to hearing from you and working with your company.
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