FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who is Vesper Energy? What other solar projects has Vesper Energy developed?

Vesper Energy provides innovative solutions to today’s complex energy challenges. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Vesper Energy is comprised of professionals who have collectively delivered more than 10 GW of renewable energy projects globally. Today, Vesper Energy’s development pipeline includes over 55 renewable energy and energy storage assets with a generating capacity of 17 GW; enough to power more than 2 million homes. Working with their customers, communities, and business partners, Vesper Energy develops, owns, and operates renewable energy projects across the United States with the goal to build a better energy infrastructure. www.vesperenergy.com/about 

Why is Vesper Energy developing Cooper Canyon Renewable Energy in White Pine County?

We pursue projects in locations that present optimal conditions. Lands managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), like those in White Pine County, offer large, contiguous tracts of land suitable for utility-scale energy development. Government initiatives also support the development of solar projects on BLM lands, as part of a broader initiative to boost renewable energy sources. Specifically, the Cooper Canyon project benefits from its proximity to transmission lines and abundant annual sunlight. This combination of factors makes the Cooper Canyon project a prime choice for development.

What benefits will Cooper Canyon Renewable Energy provide for the local area?

This project will create approximately 140 new jobs in White Pine County during construction and operations and may hire a variety of vendors and local services. If you are a local vendor that would like to be considered during construction, please complete the form on our Regional Business Partnership Page.

Cooper Canyon Renewable Energy will be ideally located on remote land with proximity to transmission lines and abundant annual sunlight. The project will contribute to Nevada's ambitious renewable energy goal to derive 50% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 while supporting White Pine County’s Economic Development Strategy to capitalize on sunshine.

To learn more about solar and energy storage benefits, please head to our Benefits page.

How many jobs are created for a project like Cooper Canyon Renewable Energy?

Cooper Canyon Renewable Energy is expected to create approximately 140 jobs during construction. Once operational, the facility will also support approximately two long-term positions.

What will the project look like? Will there be visual screening for the benefit of the residents and property owners adjoining the project?

Cooper Canyon Renewable Energy will be located adjacent to an existing wind farm and with close access to transmission lines on land that is not used for agriculture. We are committed to developing a vegetation management plan which adheres to federal, state and local rules. Development of these plans would include consideration of the most appropriate plants for the area.

Do solar panels work on cloudy days and at night?

Solar panels generate the most power in direct sunlight, but they can also produce power using indirect or diffuse sunlight – so they still work on cloudy days, and in fact, rain helps to keep solar panels operating efficiently by keeping them clean! Additionally, this project will be paired with energy storage. This allows us to store energy during peak solar production during the daytime and have it available during peak energy usage in the evening.

What happens when the project is decommissioned?

Cooper Canyon will create an overall decommissioning plan to ensure the removal of all equipment at the end of the project’s life. Once the equipment is removed, the land can be returned to its original condition.

How are solar panels disposed of?

The vast majority of solar panels installed in the U.S. are still within their operational lifespans (typically 20-30 years). As such, cost-effective opportunities to recycle solar panels are limited. However, this is an issue the solar industry is working proactively to address, and as more solar panels reach end of life in the coming years, opportunities to recover and recycle the materials in solar panels will expand. Details on panel recycling can be found in the United States Environmental Protection Agency website, at https://www.epa.gov/hw/solar-panel-recycling.

Will local first responders and firefighters need additional training?

It is unlikely that a serious event will happen at the site. However, a comprehensive emergency management plan will be created prior to construction. This will ensure safety personnel in the community are trained and able to respond appropriately.

Will the solar panels used at the Cooper Canyon Renewable Energy project leak hazardous materials?

No. Vesper Energy is committed to only using solar panels that meet or exceed environmental safety standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These standards ensure that during normal operations - as well as in the unlikely event a solar panel is damaged - the panels will not release any substances or materials that are considered hazardous under federal law.

Do solar panels work in the winter?

Yes! Solar panels work well in cold weather. Snow and ice are also generally not an issue – small amounts of snow are usually blown off by the wind, or snow may slide off on its own because the panels are tilted at an angle to capture the maximum amount of sunlight. Both help keep the modules clean throughout the winter season.

Are Li-ion batteries safe?

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) use the same technology found in many widely used in consumer products, tools and electric vehicles, and well-designed BESS are safe and reliable. Fires involving BESS can occur, but only in extreme conditions. To reduce the risk of fire and ensure the safety of the system, each BESS is equipped with automatic fire suppression equipment, and its own air conditioning or cooling system to ensure it operates within the ideal temperature range. If a fire does occur, it is generally easily contained, and has only minimal, temporary impact on local air quality. Vesper Energy will work with local fire departments and emergency responders to ensure they have adequate training and equipment to respond to any safety issues that may arise.

Do Li-ion BESS contain hazardous materials?

The US EPA classifies and determines what qualifies as hazardous waste. Hazardous waste can range from liquids, solids, gases, or sludges and can be discarded commercial products, like cleaning fluids or pesticides, or the by-products of manufacturing processes. Recently, the US EPA released guidance requiring many types of lithium-ion batteries to be disposed of as hazardous waste. Cooper Canyon Renewable Energy is committed to following pertinent federal, state, and local disposal and recycling regulations.

The high-quality Li-Ion batteries used for Vesper Energy’s BESS projects can be repurposed and reused in other utility-scale battery applications or downcycled and repurposed for other technology such as phones and tools.

Each Li-ion battery unit is encased and compartmentalized to prevent any materials from interacting with the surrounding area. Cooper Canyon Renewable Energy is committed to following all relevant federal, state, and local regulations regarding environmental safety and will regularly review and update its policies to align with industry best practices.

Can the batteries be recycled?

Widespread adoption of BESS is still relatively new, so recycling opportunities are currently limited. However, the energy storage industry is working to develop recycling opportunities to meet future demand. Another option is to “downcycle” batteries and give them a second life in a different application when their performance falls below the level needed for a utility-scale power plant.

Do you want to learn even more about Solar and Energy Storage? Check out our Sources page for more resources.

Address:
125 E John Carpenter Fwy, Suite 525
Irving, TX 75062

Contact:
Phone: 775-391-8779Email: info@coopercanyonrenewableenergy.com

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