Solar on Coal-Impacted Lands
Prioritizing the development of solar on former mine sites can serve as an economic boon to local economies that once relied on the activity at these mine sites. It could also demonstrate how solar projects can be sited effectively on previously disturbed lands—a better alternative than developing solar in places that will degrade intact forests or other important natural habitats. The Solar Workgroup actively works to develop solar projects on formerly-mined sites.
Check out some of the efforts being taken to develop solar on mined land:
- Federal funds to help turn Virginia coal mine into solar farm
- First Solar Plant to be Built on Southwest Virginia Abandoned Mine Land
- A Roadmap for Solar on Mine Lands in West Virgina
- EPA abandoned mine lands resources
- Reclaiming Appalachia Report
- Roanoke Times op-ed: From brownfields to ‘brightfields’ in Virginia’s coal country
- Downstream Strategies Appalachian Solar service
Story maps showing the potential for solar development on mined lands