Are there benefits to hosting a solar project?

Chicory Solar will invest tens of millions of dollars into Keene Township and Ionia County through local taxes, annual land costs and landowner payments, and wages and benefits. Invenergy is proud to partner with communities in Michigan to continue to invest in the clean energy economy and ensure the benefits including jobs, landowner payments and tax revenues benefit Michiganders.

Where will the electricity from the facility go?

As with any electrical generation facility, Chicory Solar will be connected to nearby transmission lines that will carry the electricity to homes and businesses as it travels along the power lines. The immense economic benefits of the project—including tens of millions in annual investments—all stay in Keene Township regardless of where the power flows.

What are solar panels made of?

Solar panels are made of common materials including glass, silicon, aluminum, copper, and other common materials. The racks that hold solar panels and wiring that transmit electricity are made from common metals like aluminum, steel, and copper. 

What do solar panels sound like?

Solar projects create little to no noise. Some electric components, such as inverters, make a quiet humming sound, similar to that of a window air conditioning unit, if you’re standing right next to it.  
 

Inverters for solar facilities are typically placed at least one hundred feet inside the project fence line and should not be heard at the fence or from neighboring properties.

How big are the panels and racking systems?

At resting height, the top of the panels will sit between six and eight feet off the ground. Panels are typically aligned in north-south rows on trackers that rotate to the east and west to follow the sun. At their peak height in the morning or evening, the tops of the panels will be approximately 10 to 15 feet off the ground.

Can solar panels be recycled?

Solar panels are built to last a long time, but it is worth noting that solar panels and equipment are easy to disassemble and recycle. By weight, more than 80% of what goes into PV panels is glass and aluminum – both common and easy-to-recycle materials.