Frequently Asked Questions
Benefits to Landowners and Communities
What benefits do clean energy projects provide landowners and their local communities?
Community solar farms give landowners and their communities access to clean energy and financial stability. The electricity we produce powers local homes, farms and businesses. Our projects guarantee landowners a stable, passive income for 30+ years, with no upfront cost. Additionally, our solar projects pay significant taxes to their local communities.
Where is the power that is generated from the solar farm used?
It is used by local farms, homes, businesses, and schools. We sell electricity to the utility and they deliver it to local customers.
Payment
How are lease payments made, and how is the value of leases determined?
Lease payments are paid by Sunrise Mountain Partners to you monthly, for the life of the lease. The rates are fixed upfront and include an annual escalator. The payments are not impacted by our year-to-year profitability. Regardless of the solar farm's performance, the lease payments will occur as laid out in the agreement.
How much will I get paid for leasing my land?
Lease rates vary depending on where the property is located, the current utility program, and the characteristics of your land. Please call us for a written proposal. Landowners can expect a payment above the current rentable value of the land.
Land
How much land do you need?
Generally speaking, we seek approximately 20-50 acres on average. For landowners with larger parcels, we can build two or even three solar farms on your property. We require a minimum of 20 buildable acres.
I'd prefer to sell land. Do you buy land?
Yes, we do. Please let us know if you are interested in selling your land.
Can I still use my property for other uses with the solar farm on it?
Yes. Many of the landowners lease a portion of their property and continue to use the remaining land for farming and/or hunting.
I heard the County banned utility-scale solar. Can you still develop on my property?
Yes, we can. These types of county restrictions ban utility-scale solar projects using thousands of acres and are several hundred megawatts in size. Our average project is 5-10 megawatts and uses 30-50 acres. These community solar farms are permitted.
Leasing Your Property
How long are your leases?
Our leases are 30-50 years, plus multiple renewal terms.
How is a typical clean energy lease structured? It is typical to see something like this:
Development Term: 5-8 years
Construction Term: 2-3 years
Operating Term: 25-30 years, with renewal options
What happens at the end of the lease?
At the end of lease, the land is fully decommissioned. Sunrise Mountain Partners will pay all costs associated with decommissioning activity. We recycle the solar equipment, steel, copper, and aluminum. Sunrise Mountain Partners is responsible for the removal of all equipment and the small concrete pads on which the inverters and transformer sit. The land will be returned to you in its original condition, or better, with a working drainage system.
Expertise
How much experience do you have?
Our people have been involved in the successful development, ownership and operations of over 80 solar farms in 16 states, representing more than 1,100 megawatts, totaling $1.2 billion. We can provide references upon request.
Development Process
How long does it take to develop a solar farm?
On average, it takes 4 years to develop a solar farm. The timeline depends on the electric utility’s interconnection process and the complexity of permitting requirements. Sunrise Mountain Partners works as quickly as possible to develop projects, and you will start earning revenue from day one.
Who is responsible for development and construction costs?
Sunrise Mountain Partners will be responsible for the entire development and construction process and all associated costs. There is no cost burden for the landowner.
What are the steps to successful development of a solar farm?
There are 3 steps:
Obtaining interconnection approval from the utility
Local permits
Equipment procurement and final engineering
Do you use concrete to install your panels?
No, not generally. Our racking system uses standard, steel I-beam posts that are driven into the ground with a pile-driver. The only concrete we use is for the transformer pad and the inverter pads. Typically those are small pads - l0'xl0', for instance - that can easily be broken up and decommissioned at the end of the lease.
Will my drainage tile get broken during construction? Will you repair it?
Unless you have a recent and detailed tile map, some field tiles will get broken during construction. After construction is complete, we retile the field and/or repair the tile. We want the land to drain well, too. Water and electricity don't mix.
Where are the materials from construction sourced from?
We try to source as many Made in USA materials as possible. The federal tax credits incentivize us to use Made in USA equipment - panels, inverters and steel. We do not source panels from China.
Taxes & Other Costs
Will my property taxes go up? If so, who pays that amount?
No, your taxes will not go up as a result of the solar system. We cover 100% of the increase in taxes. We also pay all rollback taxes triggered as a result of the solar farm. Your portion will not go up.
Who will be responsible for the permitting and associated fees?
The developer is responsible. Sunrise Mountain Partners pays for the entire permitting process and all development costs.
What happens if Sunrise Mountain Partners goes bankrupt?
We post a security bond in favor of the landowner during construction and for the life of the lease. In practice, our lenders do not allow construction of a solar farm until all of the financing is secured. In a worst case scenario, should a solar farm itself go bankrupt, the bank will take control of the project and sell it to a new operator. You will continue to receive your rent payments.
Maintenance of Solar Farm
Can I do the mowing?
Yes, if you are interested in mowing please let us know. We are always looking for local farmers to help us with vegetative maintenance. Many of our landowners want the mowing contract.
Who is responsible for operating and maintaining the solar farm?
Sunrise Mountain Partners is responsible. We develop, construct, operate, maintain and decommission our projects. We conduct remote monitoring of every solar farm daily, 365 days per year. Our people will visit the solar farm 2-4 times per year for maintenance and tune ups, plus regular mowing.
Appearance
How visible will the solar farm be?
Generally speaking, solar farms are low-profile and do not pose a significant hindrance to visual sightlines. Most of our projects are between 6-8 feet tall at their peak height – about half the height of a row of corn. Sunrise Mountain Partners will consult with the community to ensure that the visual impact of the solar farm will be minimal. We incorporate natural buffers (trees, shrubs, etc.) into our site plans to mitigate any visual impacts.
Does a solar farm produce a lot of noise?
No. The solar farm's inverters will produce a low decibel sound during daylight hours; however, it will not be noticeable unless you are standing right next to the inverters. After sunset, a solar farm produces no noise.
Health and Safety
Do solar farms represent an environmental risk to my land?
No, they do not. Our solar farms do not use hazardous materials. The panels used by Sunrise Mountain Partners comply with strict testing protocols and toxicity standards to ensure they do not release any hazardous materials into the environment.
Is it safe to live near a solar array?
Solar is a clean, renewable source of energy and does not generate air emissions. Low-level electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure from solar is no greater than standard household electrical equipment.