The proposed six-month moratorium on permitting of solar panel farms in the unincorporated areas of Caddo Parish sets the stage for a debate on the advantages and disadvantages of these installations.
Here are some of the pros for these farms:
1. Provides passive income for the landowner;
2. Electricity generated is green energy, not harmful to the environment;
3. One-time capital investment;
4. Low maintenance costs;
5. Provides jobs for installation/maintenance;
6. Long-term returns;
7. Decrease reliance on fossil fuels.
Here are some of the cons for these farms:
1. The clearing and use of large areas of land can adversely affect native vegetation and wildlife;
2. Clearing of land can adversely interfere with rainfall and natural drainage;
3. The farms can adversely affect adjacent property values;
4. The farms create a large amount of heat both during the day and at night;
5. The farms produce noise from the transformers that send the solar electricity to the electrical grid;
6. Installation and panel costs are expensive;
7. Require substantial acreage for profitable;
8. Unsightly appearance to adjacent property owners;
9. Illumination of facility at night interferes with property enjoyment;
10. Concerns over the amount of reflected sunlight onto adjacent properties and negative impact of the same;
11. Potential to become like orphan wells when abandoned with ugly equipment remaining on the property.
The Caddo Commission Long Range Committee will be reviewing the advantages and disadvantages this month with a goal of Commission action on June 8.