Frequently Asked Questions

• Setback Information based on the Vermilion County Commercial Solar Energy Facility (CSEF) Ordinance Standards:
  • • 150 feet from the nearest edge of the facility to Occupied Community Buildings on Non-participating Properties 
    • 50 feet from the nearest edge of the facility to Non-participating residences
    • 50 feet from the nearest edge of the facility Boundary lines of Non-participating Properties
    • 50 feet from the nearest edge of the facility to Public Road Right of Ways

A project-specific study of property values commissioned by a third-party firm Cohn Reznick found there will be no impact on adjacent residential property values.

The Middlefork Solar Project will generate minimal sound. Solar panels do not create sound, and the motors that rotate the panels are quiet and will have no perceptible sound at the fence of the facility.

The inverters that convert the DC power produced by the panels to transmission-grid compatible AC power make a slight hum when in use only during the day, which would be inaudible to anyone outside the project area fencing.

The Middlefork Solar project will not cause glare to drivers, occupants of adjacent lands, or to the users and operators of nearby airports and landing strips. Solar panels generate electricity through absorption of sunlight and are designed to minimize and avoid light reflection, making glare minimal. The panels will also be coated with an anti-reflective coating.

Middlefork Solar will create over 200 construction jobs and 3-5 full-time jobs once the project becomes operational.*

Solar panels are a safe and effective technology that comply with all health and safety regulations. The primary material in the panel itself is silicon, a very common earth element used in cement, ceramics, glass, and many other products.

The Middlefork Solar project will be constructed to the highest industry standards, including the use of tier 1 solar panels. The solar panels do not contain dangerous GenX or PFAS chemicals. In fact, in 2018, DowDupont—the leading manufacturer of backsheets for tier 1 solar panels—issued a statement confirming that they do not use GenX or PFAS in their backsheets.

Yes, solar energy is one of the lowest-impact forms of energy production. Solar panels are low to the ground, do not produce any greenhouse gas emissions, are almost completely silent, and do not create odors or harmful byproducts.

Solar panels will not release any toxic or hazardous substances into the environment, and no such substances are used during the operation of the project. They also do not deplete natural resources or cause environmental damage through resource extraction and transportation. In addition, solar panels do not use significant amounts of water during operation, keeping this water available for farming and other activities.

Additionally, the native vegetation and pollinator habitat within the project area will reduce water runoff and soil erosion, increase the soil nutrient base, increase carbon sequestration, and provide habitat for beneficial pollinators that positively impact the land adjacent to the project.

According to SEIA, it is estimated that the Middlefork Solar project will provide enough electricity for approximately 38,000 homes. Source: https://www.seia.org/initiatives/whats-megawatt

The panels do not produce a great deal of heat, but like any surface, could be warm to the touch on a hot sunny day. The panels would return to ambient temperature at night.

Solar projects are a temporary use of the land, and all project infrastructure will be removed at the end of the life of the Middlefork Solar project. Per land agreements, Ranger Power is required to restore the land to its pre-existing condition.

We encourage you to send a letter to your local officials and let them know that you support private property rights, local farmers, economic development, and solar energy in your community. To make this quick and easy, send a message of support through our online form.