Lea Maamari, Author at SolUnesco Developoment

Randolph Solar Updates

By Lea Maamari|2021-11-05T09:04:53-04:00November 5th, 2021|Company Update, Industry, Land Use|

By the Randolph Solar Development Team In just a few months, the Randolph Solar project will take another step forward in its development, when our team will meet with the Charlotte County Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission during public hearings. In the meantime, Randolph Solar has been working closely with our community to ensure the project will bring major tax and economic benefits while fitting seamlessly into the surrounding beauty of Charlotte County. Over 150 landowners are participating in the project with option agreements that will benefit their families, their land,

Excessive Solar Setbacks Rejected by Charlotte County Board of Supervisors

By Lea Maamari|2021-09-20T12:19:55-04:00September 20th, 2021|Land Use|

By The Randolph Solar Development Team On September 12, in a 4-3 vote, the Charlotte County Board of Supervisors rejected the excessive and unworkable setbacks for solar projects as proposed. Instead, the Supervisors voted to accept the Planning Commission’s recommendation for setbacks for solar. The approved setbacks will allow solar projects to: move forward allow developers to invest in the community provide needed revenue to the county allow solar developers to focus on accommodating the needs of neighbors who will

A larger footprint allows for maximum flexibility

By Lea Maamari|2021-08-31T08:32:52-04:00August 31st, 2021|Land Use, Virginia Solar|

By The Randolph Solar Development Team One of the most frequent questions we receive is: Why do you need so much land for your solar project? The quick answer? Flexibility. Similar to more familiar projects like a new commercial building, retail space, or school building, localities often have zoning requirements for a site in order to accommodate parking, emergency access, and setbacks to adjacent roadways and properties. Solar projects are no different. Beyond the requirements, SolUnesco designs its projects to

Are solar projects cost competitive with traditional energy sources?

By Lea Maamari|2021-05-12T10:40:21-04:00May 12th, 2021|Uncategorized, Virginia Solar|

By The Randolph Solar Development Team Despite the relative newness of solar energy deployment as a major source of electricity generation in the United States, solar is now cost competitive with conventional sources of electricity that have long powered our economy. Increased demand for solar energy alongside rapid improvements in technology have led to a 90% decrease in the cost per megawatt hour of energy generated by solar since 2009. [1] This decrease in cost alongside efforts by large corporate

Coexistence of solar with area wildlife

By Lea Maamari|2021-05-05T12:53:07-04:00May 5th, 2021|Uncategorized|

By The Randolph Solar Development Team With development projects of any size, the impact on existing wildlife habitats must be taken into consideration during planning, permitting and project construction. Unlike some developments that result in longstanding buildings or damage to a property, solar projects can coexist with existing wildlife habitats and preserve the rural nature of a site for the project’s lifespan. Any wetlands, bottomlands, or tributaries on the project site will remain untouched, and wildlife corridors are created between

Are Solar Projects Safe for the Environment?

By Lea Maamari|2021-04-14T13:40:03-04:00April 14th, 2021|Land Use, Virginia Solar|

By The Randolph Solar Development Team We’ve heard concerns from people about contamination during construction of Randolph Solar and the safety of solar panels for soils, streams, and wells. Recent advances in technology allow for solar panels to be installed on up to a 15-degree slope which eliminates the need to flatten existing topography. This minimizes land disturbances during construction. Additionally, the developers of Randolph Solar will follow permitting requirements from Southside Soil and Water Conservation District and Virginia Department

Who Does this Project Benefit?

By Lea Maamari|2021-04-07T13:10:44-04:00April 7th, 2021|Land Use, Virginia Solar|

By The Randolph Solar Development Team Yes, Randolph Solar will benefit property owners whose land is being used, but it will also benefit all residents of Charlotte County. Randolph Solar will bring substantial new tax revenue to the county, benefit numerous local businesses, and employ several hundred people during construction (about 1 ½ to 2 years). The construction of Randolph Solar represents an investment of more than $600 million in what is expected to be the largest taxpayer in the

Will I See the Solar Panels?

By Lea Maamari|2021-03-30T09:27:33-04:00March 30th, 2021|Uncategorized|

By The Randolph Solar Development Team This is one of the top questions that we receive – Will I be able to see the solar panels? When the SolUnesco team was evaluating sites for the project, this is one of the concerns that was taken into consideration. SolUnesco has developed a plan that will greatly minimize the visibility of the solar panels. The site chosen for Randolph Solar is located in an area of Charlotte County with gently rolling hills.

Why Charlotte County?

By Lea Maamari|2021-02-25T11:32:39-05:00February 25th, 2021|Virginia Solar|

By The Randolph Solar Development Team The proposed Randolph Solar Project will be located generally south of Saxe, east of Randolph, and west of Wylliesburg. It is anticipated that more than half of the land will be open space and not occupied by solar panels and equipment. Several factors are considered when choosing a site for solar projects: Close proximity to existing transmission lines Relatively flat topography Abundant, consistent exposure to sunlight Sufficient amount of land that is available Property

Solar Technology Basics: How to Safely Turn Sunlight into Energy

By Lea Maamari|2021-02-18T16:05:17-05:00February 18th, 2021|Land Use, Virginia Solar|

By The Randolph Solar Development Team Solar technology is a proven and safe method to convert free sunlight into electricity for household consumption. The solar panels, mounted on a racking system, turn sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity that is than converted by a DC/AC inverter to alternating current (AC). A transformer increases the voltage for transmission and distribution of the electricity using existing transmission lines for delivery to customers. Solar panels are generally composed of commonly used building materials,

About Lea Maamari