7. Solar Survey PPTSolar Farm Survey Results
Overview of survey
•207 total responses
–95% were Scandia residents
•~5% of city population
•Of those who completed survey, a low % skipped or didn’t
answer a question
•Received a lot of feedback in open-ended questions
–Common themes of open-ended comments
•No more solar / we have enough solar farms
•Open to more solar farms
•Existing solar farms (in particular the farm near Manning & 97) should have
required more screening
•Prefer solar to industrial/commercial/dense residential development
•Keep/restrict them to larger lots
•Limit to areas zoned commercial, industrial, or mining
•Allow landowners to choose how they use their land
•Let the market demand dictate if the city can have more
•Require more immediate screening
Multiple Choice responses –Q3
“If solar farms were screened at 90% or greater immediately upon
installation using a berm, scenic canvas, natural vegetation, or a
combination of each, what’s your opinion on allowing additional/new
solar farms in the community?”
Multiple Choice responses –Q4
“Solar farms are only permitted on parcels that are zoned AG C (link to
zoning map). Would you support allowing solar farms in other zoning
districts, in addition to areas zoned AG C?”
Multiple Choice responses –Q5
“Do you support increasing restrictions on solar farms, such as limiting it
to only larger sized lots?”
Multiple Choice responses –Q6
“Some communities require beneficial plants, crops, or beehives to be
co-located under and around solar panels in commercial projects. Would
this type of requirement improve your view of solar farms?”
Takeaways
•Close to even split among respondents between
supporting and opposing, slight preference to opposing
new solar
–Screening standards changing over the years has
resulted in frustration with early installations
•Do not permit in other zones, keep in AG C
–Farming of sunlight is no different than farming of crops
•Slight preference to add more restrictions to new solar
farms
–Larger lots, further setbacks from roads/ROW, berms
•Requiring plantings, crops, or natural areas to be
incorporated with solar farms improved respondents’ views
on solar farms
–Can help solar farms coexist with environment