Minimizing Impact
Avantus was founded in California in 2009, and it is important to our team that we do right by our home state. That’s why we design and develop our projects with a “smart from the start” strategy to minimize potential impacts on local resources and wildlife.
Water Use
Like all of our solar projects, Buttonbush Solar Center will require minimal water use once constructed – significantly less than agricultural operations, which the majority of the site is currently zoned for. During the construction process, water is primarily used for dust suppression. Once operational, the plant may require infrequent cleanings with water to remove dirt and dust from the panels.
Given the long-term trend of declining water availability, transitioning some agricultural land to solar could help the region reduce water usage and allow farmers to allocate water to more productive land.
Solar and Agriculture
Avantus is committed to being a good neighbor to farms and agriculture near Buttonbush Solar Center. We do not anticipate any significant impacts to nearby agricultural or dairy operations and have a proven track record of operating seamlessly in agricultural regions like Kern County and Imperial County. As our past projects have illustrated, solar and agriculture can not only co-exist as neighbors, but thrive.
Redwood, an Avantus clean energy project located adjacent to agricultural operations in Kern County
Construction Impacts
During construction, we expect our crews will generate some noise and add cars/trucks to certain roads, and we will aim to minimize those potential impacts. As always, we aim to be respectful of our neighbors and keep construction noise to a minimum. All site activity will be subject to and comply with Kern County noise ordinances.
Dust control methods, including applying water to active roadways, will be used throughout the construction period to minimize airborne dust and the potential impacts on construction workers and the surrounding community, including farming operations.
Operational Impacts
Upon completion, Buttonbush Solar Center will not create any significant additional local traffic.
Any noise generated by the project is expected to be minimal and should not be heard by neighboring residents or animals. The low hum from power inverters and/or low-speed rotating solar trackers is audible only from very close range.
Solar panels also typically act as a windbreaker, reducing wind speeds throughout the site and thereby minimizing airborne dust. Because we are in the business of capturing sunlight, we are incentivized to make sure our panels are free from excessive dust.
The site will also feature 24/7 security and monitoring to ensure the safety of the site and equipment. The project may also include additional security measures, including reflective warning signage, controlled access points, security camera systems, and/or security guard vehicle patrols to deter trespassing and unauthorized activities.
