Frequently Asked Questions

What Economic Benefits Do We Get from the Proposed newberg energy Project?

The Newberg Energy Project will be $215 million private investment in the local community.  This project will contribute more than $24 million in property taxes during the first 25 years of operation. These stable, long-term revenues will support quality of life, infrastructure, education, debt servicing, and community improvements.  In the first year of Project operations alone, the project will pay over $3 million in property taxes.  Indirect economic benefits in the form of local jobs and materials purchased from local vendors will result in significant additional income throughout Cass County. 

Will the Newberg Energy project Create Good-Paying Jobs for Our Community?

YES! During construction, the Newberg Energy Project will create up to 200 construction jobs lasting between 9-12 months. The project anticipates that many of these jobs will be filled by Cass County residents. During operation, the Project will create several new full-time, well-paying local jobs for the ongoing operations and maintenance of the solar farm. 

How Will the Project Blend into the Surrounding Landscape? 

Newberg Energy Project will plant trees and shrubs to provide natural visual screening of the project from neighboring occupied properties and other necessary areas throughout all four seasons.  Professional maintenance will ensure the site is carefully maintained in accordance with Newberg Township and project operating requirements.

Is Solar Power Environmentally Friendly? 

Absolutely!  Solar power is clean energy.  There’s no pollution of air, water, or land and no negative health impacts. Solar power using photovoltaic (PV) panels is very quiet with minimal moving parts. The project will carefully site the solar facilities to avoid potential impacts to wetlands and wildlife.  When the project has reached the end of its operational life, the project facilities will be fully decommissioned, and the land returned to its original condition before the project was constructed in accordance with the Newberg Township Solar Ordinance regulations.

Will This Affect My Property Values?

Independent studies of installed large-scale solar energy projects throughout the U.S., including (State), consistently show that operating solar farms have no material impact on neighboring property values.

Do Solar Panels Make Noise?

The Newberg Energy Project will consist of panels, inverters, and a single substation, and noise levels vary by component. Panels are silent. Inverters, which only operate when the sun is out, make a slight hum. This hum is typically inaudible outside the project area and often quieter than day-time background noise. The project will have a single substation for the entire project which will be similar to existing nearby substations and will emit some noise. The substation will be sited to minimize any disturbance to nearby residences and will meet all local sound regulations. The project will conduct a sound study to confirm that the project meets all state and local noise regulations.

Will These Panels Impact Our Drinking Water? 

No! There is no threat of chemicals releasing into the environment or leaking into ground water during normal use, including extreme weather. Panels are manufactured to stay intact when damaged and have survived severe hail without any impact on groundwater. They are designed, manufactured, and installed to withstand wild weather and are ready for Michigan winters!

Do Solar Projects Produce Radiation?

Anything with an electrical current produces some level of radiation because electrical currents produce varying levels of electromagnetic fields. Even the earth produces background radiation levels that individuals experience 24-hours a day. Independent and government studies have shown that you experience far lower exposure to radiation at the perimeter of a solar farm than you do while using most daily household appliances including vacuum cleaners, cell phones, refrigerators, and microwaves. 

Will The Solar Panels Produce Glare?

Solar panels are made of materials that are meant to absorb sunlight, not reflect it, and they are made with an anti-glare coating.  Accordingly, solar panels only reflect a small amount of the sunlight that falls on them compared to most other everyday objects such as windows or water. The project will conduct a glint and glare study that uses the Federal Aviation Administration’s glint and glare standards to ensure that no residences around or near the project will experience glare.  

Who Is Developing This Project? 

Orion Renewable Energy Group is developing this project. Orion was founded in 1998 on the belief that renewables would be the future of energy. Twenty-four years later, Orion has remained an independent company generating more than 5,000 megawatts of clean, renewable energy, powering more than one million U.S. homes and counting. Our founding team has been together since the start, earning Orion a reputation as a national company that’s true to our word and consistently completes the projects it undertakes. www.OrionRenewables.com.