FAQ Frequently Asked Questions Moraine Solar FAQ

CONTENTS

EDF Renewables ...... 1 Who is EDF Renewables?* ...... 1 Has EDF Renewables created a facility of this size with ?* ...... 1 Moraine Solar ...... 1 What is Moraine Solar? ...... 1 Siting ...... 2 Why is the project being proposed on land that is being used for agriculture? ...... 2 Hunting ...... 2 What is the hunting setback around battery modules? ...... 2 Will hunters have less land to hunt on, setbacks, and limits on where the discharging of arms may occur? ...... 2 Taxes ...... 2 Will land previously taxed as agriculture now be taxed as commercial? ...... 2 Can the towns of Burns spend the income from solar payments any way they want or is property tax stabilization written into the town’s agreements? ...... 3 If you are not someone with panels on your land, the only benefit to the public at large is through tax relief? ...... 3 Why not pay full taxes? A PILOT is a tax break...... 3 Will land that was previously taxed as agriculture now be taxed as commercial? ...... 3 Land/Farm ...... 4 Do you pay landowners for right of ways (transmission lines, access roads, under or over ground cables)?...... 4 How will farmland be protected? ...... 4 Sheep farming is not really a profitable business in this area. Who controls the weeds and brush in the area? ...... 4 How much farmland will be displaced in the town of Burns? ...... 4

Environment ...... 5 Are you clear cutting wooded lots to host the project? ...... 5 How many greenhouse gases will we be able to avoid this project? ...... 5 What are long-term studies showing on contamination? How old is your oldest solar farm? 5 Is there chemical contamination associated with recycling and decommissioning of solar panels? ...... 5 How will this project affect the water table? ...... 5 Will this project have any adverse effects on the NYSDEC Freshwater Wetland located south of the facility and other wildlife habitat? ...... 6 Will wetland laws be followed? ...... 6 Power...... 6 How are you connecting to the grid? ...... 6 If this is another way to deliver electricity downstate, why impact my neighborhood? Why not make this work downstate? ...... 6 Solar farm is paid for with our tax dollars to make electricity that we don’t need. Then NY state has promised to buy this unnecessary power. Won’t that increase our utility costs to cover this, just like the most recent rate hike? ...... 6 How does solar compare to natural gas, coal, nuclear in relation to emissions/pollution? ..... 7 Will we be able to chose you guys as our energy suppliers? ...... 7 Is excess energy transferred to the grid or stored on site? ...... 7 Noise ...... 7 Do the panels make noise? ...... 7 How much noise will be heard at neighboring homes? ...... 7 Will the project produce noise? ...... 7 Decommissioning ...... 8 What is decommissioning and who will pay for it? ...... 8 What happens to solar panels at the end of life? ...... 8 How do we know that EDF Renewables is committed to decommissioning? ...... 8 Jobs ...... 9 Where is the labour force coming from? ...... 9 Zoning ...... 9 Why is land being re-zoned for commercial? ...... 9

Will re-zoning of areas be required, including rezoning of non-panel properties? ...... 9 Safety ...... 9 Are solar panels safe? ...... 9 In the event there is a fire, is the fire department going to be able to get in these fenced areas immediately? ...... 10 Can solar panels catch fire? ...... 10 Can you show us human health studies for folks living around such a large plant? ...... 10 What are long-term studies showing on contamination? How old is your oldest solar farm? ...... 10 Will this project impact the Quality of Life of local property owners? ...... 11 Should an analysis be conducted of the relative risks and benefits of the use of such equipment instead of equipment that does not contain hazardous materials? ...... 11 Property Values ...... 12 What will happen to neighboring property values? ...... 12 Schedule ...... 12 What is the anticipated project timeline? ...... 12 When will construction start, if the project does go forward? ...... 12 Benefits ...... 12 How many jobs would be created? ...... 12 What Community benefits are proposed if the project goes forward? ...... 13 How can Burns residents win for hosting this project? ...... 13 What benefits will Moraine Solar provide when the project is built? ...... 13 What financial support will the project obtain? ...... 14 Community Engagement ...... 14 How does one apply to obtain intervenor funding? ...... 14 How does EDF Renewables plan to engage the local community to communicate the project and obtain feedback? ...... 14 Visual Buffering ...... 15 I heard about visual buffering. What does that mean? ...... 15 My property is on a hillside that overlooks Moraine Valley. Because my property is on a hillside, how will you implement a visual buffer? Will this decrease my property value? ...... 15

Other ...... 15 How does a first responder turn the power off to protect themselves? ...... 15 With technology changing so rapidly, won’t these panels and batteries become obsolete, meaning replacement and higher electric costs for all? Or, will the local utility look to other sources or methods of power generation that are much cheap? ...... 16 Will this project impact electric and magnetic fields? ...... 16 The Power lines run directly across my property. What adverse effects will the increased voltage have and how the dirty electric will be addressed? ...... 16

EDF RENEWABLES Who is EDF Renewables?* EDF Renewables is a market leading independent power producer and service provider with more than 30 years of experience leading the way to a clean energy future with large-scale projects that put the economy, communities and the environment first.

EDF Renewables has developed, financed, constructed, operates and manages more than 16 gigawatts (the equivalent of 160 million 100-watt light bulbs) of projects in . In , EDF Renewables, owns and operates the 80-megawatt (the equivalent of 800 thousand 100 watt light bulbs) Copenhagen in Lewis County and is currently developing the following projects that are anticipated to be operational by the end of 2023:

• 177 megawatt (the equivalent of 1.77 million 100 watt light bulbs) Morris Ridge Center in Livingston County • 93.55 megawatt (the equivalent of 935,000 100 watt light bulbs) Moraine Solar Energy Center in Allegany County • 90 megawatt (the equivalent of 900,000 100 watt light bulbs) Homer Solar Energy Center in Cortland County • 118 megawatt (the equivalent of 1.18 million 100 watt light bulbs) Tracy Solar Energy Center in Jefferson County Has EDF Renewables created a facility of this size with energy storage?* EDF Renewables completed a number of other large solar electricity generating projects, including the 143 MW Catalina Solar project in and 137 MW Playa 2 Solar project in Nevada. EDF Renewables is starting construction on projects as large as the 500 MW Palen Solar project in California. EDF Renewables is also committed to building the 200 MW Arrow Canyon Solar project in Nevada that will be completed in 2022 and include a significant energy storage component. MORAINE SOLAR What is Moraine Solar? The Moraine Solar Energy Center is a proposed 94MW solar photovoltaic project that will be sited on approximately 650 acres of private land located in the Town of Burns, Allegany County, New York. The project will generate enough electricity to power 20,000 homes, provide tax and job benefits to the region, and contribute to New York State’s renewable energy targets.

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SITING Why is the project being proposed on land that is being used for agriculture? EDF Renewables recognizes the significant amount of land required to accommodate solar projects and we put a great deal of effort into co- locating various forms of agriculture within our project sites. For example, we have worked to incorporate sheep grazing and foraging of bees, creating critical habitat for the declining bee populations on a 200-acre project in Ontario, . The site yields 300 jars of honey and hosts 300 sheep annually.

We want to engage with farmers in the community to include similar types of agrivoltaics (co-development of solar for electricity and agriculture) at this project. HUNTING What is the hunting setback around battery modules? There are no prescribed setbacks from the energy storage or solar facilities. Our facilities are enclosed by a fence and therefore hunting would take place outside of the fenced area of our facilities and respect all local laws and applicable hunting practices. Will hunters have less land to hunt on, setbacks, and limits on where the discharging of arms may occur? About 650 acres of private property from participating landowners who are hosting project infrastructure and within the fenced area of the facility would be off-limits for hunting. The New York Hunting and Trapping Guide requires certain setbacks (500’ for fire arms, 250’ for crossbows and 150’ for bows) from dwellings, farm buildings or structures in occupation. This could mean some setbacks would be required from some project components like inverters, transformers and energy storage containers that are typically installed well within the project fence. There are no setbacks from solar panels though. Therefore, we anticipate any additional setbacks outside of the project fence and on non-participating lands to be negligible. TAXES Will land previously taxed as agriculture now be taxed as commercial? Land hosting solar panels and currently being taxed as agriculture exempt will lose this exemption and be applied a penalty paid by EDF Renewables. Hosting a solar project will not change the zoning designation of host properties or neighboring properties. Moraine Solar project will not affect the property taxes of neighboring properties.

Properties hosting project components may be subject to an increase in taxes attributed to the project, and such increases will be paid by EDF Renewables.

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Can the towns of Burns spend the income from solar payments any way they want or is property tax stabilization written into the town’s agreements? Funds that will be contributed to the town of Burns is typically for the town and its citizens to determine how it will be spent. EDF renewables does not determine how the funds will be spent or allocated. If you are not someone with panels on your land, the only benefit to the public at large is through tax relief? Moraine solar will provide substantial new revenues (anticipated to be $7 million in direct payments in the first 20 years of operation) paid to the Town of Burns, Allegany County and Canaseraga Central School District. The project will also be sited with appropriate visual setbacks and buffering to properly integrate the project in the community.

The town and its citizens would have an opportunity to determine how the funds are appropriated. The land rent paid to landowners is also a significant investment in the community.

More than 150 jobs will be created to build the project over two years and two full time positions would be created during operation. All these new investments will have an appreciable benefit to the community at large. Why not pay full taxes? A PILOT is a tax break. PILOTs are negotiated with many other businesses too, not just solar. Moraine Solar intends to negotiate a PILOT with the Allegany County Industrial Development Agency and Host Community Agreement with the Town of Burns that would contribute approximately 10 times more revenue to the community than the current taxes paid by the host properties.

This means about $300,000 in new revenues paid to the Town of Burns, Allegany County and Canaseraga Central School District each year. Will land that was previously taxed as agriculture now be taxed as commercial? Land that is being taxed as agriculture exempt and hosting solar panels will lose their exemption. The property taxes on the properties will increase due to the loss of agriculture exemption and be paid by EDF renewables. Hosting a solar project will not change the zoning designation of the property as solar is allowed on properties as of right under the zoning code. The solar project will not affect the property taxes of neighboring properties nor increase taxes for anyone in the community. As proposed, the tax revenue generated by the lands hosting the project will increase by about ten fold compared to agricultural exempt. This additional revenue for the Town, County and School Districts will be paid by EDF Renewables.

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LAND/FARM Do you pay landowners for right of ways (transmission lines, access roads, under or over ground cables)? Yes any property that will host project infrastructure will have a lease or easement agreement and will receive a form of compensation. How will farmland be protected? The project must follow strict guidelines by the Department of Agriculture and Markets during construction and decommissioning to protect topsoil and repair soil compaction. As part of decommissioning, the land can be returned to farming and the soil could benefit from grazing by sheep or other uses during the project operating life.

Solar panels are used to convert sunlight to a usable source of electricity, much like plants convert sunlight to crops for energy. Just like farms produce corn, soy, grains, milk and meat that are sold to urban and rural markets, the electricity produced by the solar project supplies the same urban and rural markets.

EDF Renewables successfully integrated 300 sheep on a 200 acre solar project in Ontario Canada. The farmers are able to sell free range grass fed lamb on the market as a result.

A video about solar grazing produced by EnterSolar, an affiliate of EDF Renewables is available here. A second video about solar grazing, by Farm Credit East, is available here. Sheep farming is not really a profitable business in this area. Who controls the weeds and brush in the area? We are sensitive to the use of agricultural land and are promoting feasible ways to incorporate agriculture with solar. One such way is by grazing sheep among the solar panels to control vegetation. We usually pay a business to provide vegetation management services which can include mechanical mowing. However, the idea of sheep grazing in lieu of mechanical mowing can mean additional jobs within the project area and improved soil heath.

Typically the way this works is we sign an agreement and pay the business or farmer to maintain the vegetation by using sheep and/or mechanical mowing. How much farmland will be displaced in the town of Burns? The project is being proposed on 650 acres of land in the towns of Burns and Dansville. Allegany County Agricultural Development and Farmland Enhancement Plan indicates there are 180,000 acres of farmland in Allegany County. Moraine solar will be temporarily displacing roughly 0.4% of the total farmland in Allegany County. Our aim is to co-locate agriculture, like pollinators and grazers around our solar panels to help offset this. Source: Allegany County Agricultural Development and Farmland Enhancement Plan.

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ENVIRONMENT Are you clear cutting wooded lots to host the project? Project components are intended to be sited to the greatest extent possible on lands that are already cleared. However, there will be some infrastructure sited within areas that are currently wooded. How many greenhouse gases will we be able to avoid this project? The expected electricity generated in one year is enough to meet the consumption of up to 20,000 average homes. This is equivalent to avoiding more than 70,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions annually which represents the greenhouse gas emissions from 15,000 passenger vehicles driven over the course of one year. What are long-term studies showing on contamination? How old is your oldest solar farm? The material that makes up the solar panels is contained within the panels themselves. Therefore, there have not been any environmental contaminant studies conducted on these projects as it is not warranted.

Our oldest large utility scale solar facility is 10 years old and it continues to be in operation and is still owned by EDF Renewables. The same solar panels that were installed 10 years ago are still producing electricity on site.

This site is sustainable and hosts more than 300 sheep grazing vegetation among the solar panels and bee hives that produce 300 x 16 oz jars of honey annually. Is there chemical contamination associated with recycling and decommissioning of solar panels? The vast majority of solar panels, including those proposed for Ridge View solar, are classified as non-toxic waste and accepted at ordinary landfills. Solar panels undergo a “Toxic Characteristic Leaching Procedure” test mandated by the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act to determine their toxicity. Click here to learn more.

Further, there are no anticipated emissions to the ground, air or water as a result of the operation of solar panels. As no soil contamination is anticipated, the land can be safely utilized for grazing during operation or farming after site decommissioning. How will this project affect the water table? When rainwater hits the solar panels, it will fall on the ground. The vegetation beneath the solar panels will slow the flow of water, compared to having row cropping, allowing the water to infiltrate. The solar site behaves like a meadow. The solar panels shade the ground, decreasing evaporation and maintaining higher soil moisture. A study in Arizona has shown increased crop yields under modules because of higher moisture remaining in the soil:

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“We find that shading by the PV panels provides multiple additive and synergistic benefits, including reduced plant drought stress, greater food production and reduced PV panel heat stress.”

As observed in past Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP) for solar projects, the discharge rate of stormwater from a solar facility is less than it was for a row crop site. That means there is more water being retained on site to recharge local aquifers. Will this project have any adverse effects on the NYSDEC Freshwater Wetland located south of the facility and other wildlife habitat? The Moraine Solar Project will undergo a thorough environmental review process that will include a variety of ecological studies, with input from the local community and agencies, like the Department of Environmental Conservation, to assure that impacts on wetlands, vegetation and wildlife are avoided or minimized. More information will be shared with the public after our studies are conducted in 2021. Additionally, the Section 94-c permit Application will include detailed descriptions of measures undertaken by the Applicant to avoid, minimize, and mitigate identified significant impacts to ecological resources. Will wetland laws be followed? Wetland laws need to be followed as part of project permitting. POWER How are you connecting to the grid? A short (less than 0.1 mile) 115kv line will connect the project to the existing NYSEG Moraine substation. If this is another way to deliver electricity downstate, why impact my neighborhood? Why not make this work downstate? 100% of the energy generated will be delivered to the pool that supplies all New York consumers via the transmission grid. Much like the dairy, corn, grains, and vegetables produced locally feeds both rural and urban centers, so does the electricity we will generate. Solar farm is paid for with our tax dollars to make electricity that we don’t need. Then NY state has promised to buy this unnecessary power. Won’t that increase our utility costs to cover this, just like the most recent rate hike? No tax dollars are being paid to the project to build the project. The project only gets paid as electricity is sold to the grid. Renewable energy generation, including solar is necessary in New York state to meet targets to generate 70% of New York’s electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030.

The cost of solar electricity has decreased substantially in the past 10 years and it is now economically feasible in New York.

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How does solar compare to natural gas, coal, nuclear in relation to emissions/pollution? Solar energy does not produce any greenhouse gases during the operation of the facility. Overall manufacturing through to decommissioning, the carbon footprint of a solar is about 5% as much as coal and 10% as much as natural gas. Will we be able to chose you guys as our energy suppliers? At this point in time, the electricity generated by the project would be sold to the merchant market and not available for direct purchase from persons or businesses in the local community. Is excess energy transferred to the grid or stored on site? A 5 MW energy storage system is being considered and would be installed adjacent to the project substation. NOISE Do the panels make noise? No, the solar panels do not make noise. Some of the facility components such as inverters and transformers do make noise, but that equipment is sited with appropriate setbacks from neighboring homes so that the sound observed outside those homes would be no louder than that of a quiet room. How much noise will be heard at neighboring homes? Some solar equipment like inverters and transformers can generate noise while they are in operation, sometimes in the range of 80 decibels at a distance of 3 ft, which is similar to a vacuum cleaner or lawn mower. However, solar projects like this one are regulated by the Section 94-c permitting process, and must meet strict rules for sound levels propagated to neighboring homes. As the project becomes more mature, maps would be created to show the public the level of sound generated from the facility, and contour plots showing the sound propagating off-site and to neighboring homes. To obtain permits for construction, a reduction of sound to that similar to a quiet room (in the range of 40 decibels), adjacent to neighboring homes, must be demonstrated. This is generally achieved through equipment setbacks. For example inverters and transformers are installed hundreds of feet away from homes. Will the project produce noise? While construction activities will temporarily contribute noise to the area, efforts will be undertaken to limit the noise to times of the day between 7 AM and 7 PM. Noise generated in the construction of a solar facility is similar to the noise that would be observed from on-site farming activities.

During operation of the Facility, the solar panels do not make noise, however some of the facility components such as inverters and transformers do make noise. This equipment will be sited with appropriate setbacks from neighboring homes so that the sound observed follows New

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York State regulations. Typically, this means that the sound perceived outside of neighboring homes is similar to that of a quiet room. As stated in the PSS, Section 2119.1, compared with most other types of power generation facilities, the potential for any kind of community noise impact from operation of a photovoltaic solar energy project is very low.

The Application will include the results and discussion of a Project Noise Impact Assessment (PNIA) that will be conducted for the Facility to determine potential noise impacts of construction and operation on surrounding areas. DECOMMISSIONING What is decommissioning and who will pay for it? Decommissioning is the process of removing equipment (solar panels, inverters, transformers) and improvements (roads and fences) and returning the land to its prior use when a solar facility is at its end of life. This is paid for by the project owner, and not the landowner or municipality.

To ensure these activities are planned for and funded, the project will post a security, sometimes in the form of a letter of credit, to cover the cost to decommission the facility. This security is required by New York State and is posted before the start of operation.

The project cannot receive permission to operate without this commitment to cover decommissioning costs.

If project land was previously used for agriculture, any topsoil that was removed or disturbed during the construction, operation or decommissioning of the solar facility will be replaced so the land can be returned to farming. What happens to solar panels at the end of life? The disposal of solar panels in New York must conform to all governmental, environmental, and legal requirements. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) established a national recycling program connecting US-based recyclers with business who have solar panels to recycle. Many components of crystalline silicon panels can be reused and recycled, namely the metal, glass and wiring components, as well as the silicon cells which can be melted down to reclaim the silicon and various metals by specialty recycling companies. How do we know that EDF Renewables is committed to decommissioning? Project decommissioning commitments are guaranteed in a number of ways. First, in the lease agreements we’ve signed with landowners who agreed to host project components, there is a commitment to present a decommissioning plan to the landowner for the removal of all physical material related to the project to a depth of 3’ or 4’ below ground, and restoring the land to substantially the same condition before project construction.

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Decommissioning will be a condition of our project permitting and is also addressed in the local town codes and includes removal of equipment, disposal of all waste and stabilization or re- vegetation of the site as necessary to minimize erosion.

To ensure these activities are planned for and funded, the project will post a security, likely in the form of a letter of credit, to cover the cost to decommission the facility. This security is required by New York State and the Town of Burns and is posted in favor of the Town of Burns before operations begin. By providing these funds prior to the start of operations, local communities are protected in the event that the project owner is unable to provide funds when the project enters into the decommissioning phase. JOBS Where is the labour force coming from? During the development process, people are employed conducting site surveys, permitting, community engagement, land acquisition and many more activities. We have hired a number of consultants within the Western New York area to help with these tasks.

Construction is anticipated to take about one year, and at its peak, require more than one hundred fifty workers. It is anticipated that a significant component of the labor force will be sourced from Western New York. Part of our two-person operations team is anticipated to be staffed locally provided that candidates for the position are available. ZONING Why is land being re-zoned for commercial? Land is not being re-zoned for commercial because solar energy is permitted within the current land designation. Will re-zoning of areas be required, including rezoning of non-panel properties? There will be no rezoning required as part of the project. It is not necessary for this type of development as it is allowed under the current zoning. The zoning of neighboring properties will not change because of the project. SAFETY Are solar panels safe? Crystalline silicon panels that are manufactured using safe and non-toxic materials are proposed for this project. These modules are comprised of silicon, copper and aluminum, sandwiched between glass and a plastic encapsulant with an aluminum frame. These types of solar panels do not contain toxic materials and are the same type that are commonly installed on rooftops and schools.

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In the event there is a fire, is the fire department going to be able to get in these fenced areas immediately? All of our facilities will include Knox boxes and local first responders will have keys to enter the facility. Depending on the agreement with first responders and their comfort with the facility, they will either a) wait for operations personnel to arrive before entering the facility or b) notify EDF Renewables and enter the facility prior to the arrival of Operations & Maintenance personnel.

A local crew of 2 persons would operate and maintain the facility, therefore there would be staff living near the project.

Placards around the facility will provide a number to call our operations and maintenance control center, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and speak to a live person. Can solar panels catch fire? Solar panels rarely catch fire and are not combustible. In the unlikely event of a fire within a solar panel, it would smoulder and not likely spread.

During the permitting process and prior to the start of construction, the project team will meet with local EMS officials to confirm the appropriate training and response protocols to be followed. A Safety Response Plan and Site Security Plan will be prepared as part of the permitting process and will be reviewed with local EMS officials prior to the start of construction. Can you show us human health studies for folks living around such a large solar power plant? One of the more comprehensive studies looking at the impact of solar facilities on human health and the environment was published by the University of North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center and titled ‘Health and Safety Impacts of Solar Photovotaics’. The study can be accessed here. What are long-term studies showing on contamination? How old is your oldest solar farm? Our oldest large utility scale solar facility is Arnprior solar. It was installed in 2009 and continues to be in operation and is still owned by EDF Renewables. The same solar panels that were installed 10 years ago are still producing electricity on site.

The material that makes up the solar panels is contained within the panels themselves. Therefore, there have not been any environmental contaminant studies conducted on these projects as it is not warranted. In fact, we have 400 sheep grazing the land under the solar panels and produce 300 jars of honey annually from the bees foraging the site. The fact we can conduct these activities at the site are a testament to the sustainability of solar energy generation.

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Will this project impact the Quality of Life of local property owners? The Applicant is sensitive to maintaining landowners home standards and quality of life standards and is sensitive to minimizing any potential health impacts associated with the project.

First and foremost, crystalline silicon panels, proposed for the Facility, are manufactured using safe and non-toxic materials. These modules are comprised of silicon, copper and aluminum, sandwiched between glass and a plastic encapsulant with an aluminum frame. These types of solar panels do not contain toxic materials and are the same type that are commonly installed on rooftops and schools.

With respect to noise levels, the solar panels being implemented at the site do not make noise, however some of the facility components such as inverters and transformers do make noise. This equipment will be sited with appropriate setbacks from neighboring homes so that the sound impacts comply with local and New York State regulations. Typically, this means that the sound perceived outside of neighboring homes is similar to that of a quiet room.

The Section 94-c Application will provide an evaluation that identifies, describes, and discusses potential significant adverse impacts of the construction and operation of the Facility, the interconnections, and related facilities on the environment, public health, and safety at a level of detail that reflects the severity of the impacts and the reasonable likelihood of their occurrence, and identifies the current applicable statutory and regulatory framework. In the Applicant’s experience, when a project such as the Facility is properly sited and designed, significant impacts to public health and safety typically do not occur. Should an analysis be conducted of the relative risks and benefits of the use of such equipment instead of equipment that does not contain hazardous materials? Crystalline silicon panels that are manufactured using safe and non-toxic materials are proposed for this project. These modules are comprised of silicon, copper and aluminum, sandwiched between glass and a plastic encapsulant with an aluminum frame. These types of solar modules are the same type that are commonly installed on rooftops and schools.

The paper from the University of North Carolina exploring the toxicity of silicon-based PV panels concludes that “silicon-based PV panels do not pose a material threat to public health and safety. The only aspect of the panels with potential toxicity concerns is the very small amount of lead in some panels. However, any lead in a panel is well sealed from environmental exposure for the operating lifetime of the solar panel and thus not at risk of release into the environment.”

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PROPERTY VALUES What will happen to neighboring property values? The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has examined property values across the United States. Their studies demonstrate large-scale solar arrays often have no measurable impact on the value of adjacent properties and in some cases may even have positive effects.

Furthermore, the proximity to solar farms does not deter the sales of agricultural or residential land. Large solar projects have similar characteristics to a greenhouse or single-story residence and the integration of visual buffers, such as natural vegetation, trees, and green fences lessen the visual impact of the project from neighboring homes and roads.

Read the full SEIA fact sheet here. SCHEDULE What is the anticipated project timeline? Moraine Solar Energy Center is completing a thorough permitting process that takes a minimum of two years to complete with multiple opportunities for input from all stakeholders. EDF Renewables if planning to share more information about the project with the local community in the months to come, and prior to submitting its permit application later in 2021.

At this time, project construction might start in late 2022 and last until late 2023. The operation phase is intended to last 30-40 years after which time the project would be decommissioned and the land returned to its previous use, including farming. When will construction start, if the project does go forward? Construction could start as early as late 2022 (at the conclusion of permitting). BENEFITS How many jobs would be created? More than 150 jobs will be created during construction (expected to last one year) as well as two full time positions during operation, fostering significant long-term job growth along with other projects across the state within the renewable energy sector.

Businesses that benefit from labor, services and material supply before, during and after construction include environmental consulting, project and construction management, surveying, geotech, construction services, equipment rental, landscaping, maintenance, and hospitality to name a few.

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What Community benefits are proposed if the project goes forward?

Moraine Solar project is proposed to be sited on about 650 acres of land. Revenues to the Town of Burns, Allegany County and Canaseraga Central School District would be about ten times higher than the current tax contributions from the land being proposed to host the project.

As currently proposed, the Project would contribute $7 million in direct payments to the Town of Burns, Allegany County and Canaseraga Central School District in the first 20 years of operation. This value includes PILOT and/or Host Community Agreements, special district taxes, taxes on underlying land, and agricultural exemption conversion penalties. In addition, more than $15 million in landowner payments are anticipated to be paid over the same period of time. These are all dollars that will be partially reinvested into the community, and do not include paid salaries or locally sourced material, service or equipment supplies. Additional benefits are possible from co-locating farming like sheep grazing and foraging of bees within the solar footprint How can Burns residents win for hosting this project? Many Burns residents and landowners feel this is a winning opportunity. EDF Renewables is committed to integrating a responsibly sited solar project that will create more than 150 construction jobs, integrate agricultural activities within the project area, and contribute significant new investments to the community. Annual community investments include hundreds of thousands of dollars of stable income for landowners that can be reinvested in the community, and three hundred thousand dollars in new revenues for the Town of Burns, Allegany County and Canaseraga Central School District annually. What benefits will Moraine Solar provide when the project is built? The Project represents a more than $100 million investment in Allegany County and New York State. The Project would rank among the largest - by investment value - in Allegany County. Investment in the Community has three primary categories which are described further below: Job Creation, Contributions in Taxes and Revenues, and Indirect Economic Benefits.

Moraine Solar will provide benefits to both the local community and New York State during its construction and operation. The PILOT, Host Community Agreement and other taxes are anticipated to contribute $300,000 in new revenues per year, to the Town of Burns, Allegany County and Canaseraga Central School District. More than 150 jobs will be created during construction (expected to last one year) as well as two full time positions during operation, fostering significant long-term job growth locally along with other projects across New York State within the renewable energy sector. Businesses that benefit from labor, services and material supply before, during and after construction include environmental consulting, project and construction management, surveying, geotechnical, construction services, equipment rental, landscaping, maintenance, and hospitality to name a few. Additional job opportunities are possible by integrating agricultural activities within the site, such as grazing sheep and foraging bees.

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What financial support will the project obtain? Similar to any other electricity generator in New York State (i.e. natural gas), there is an exemption on the payment of sales tax for certain equipment purchased used to generate electricity. For solar, this includes all components from the solar panels to the inverters.

Another available option is negotiating a PILOT agreement with Allegany County IDA that includes an exemption for all equipment and materials needed for the construction of the project. These exemptions are meant to encourage the development of renewable energy projects, which are a public necessity and contribute new revenues to local economies.

Moraine Solar will also generate renewable energy credits, which can be sold as they are generated, just like any other renewable energy generator. At the Federal level, there are several mechanisms in place to help stimulate renewable energy development, including the modified accelerated cost recovery system (MACRS), which is a way for assets to be depreciated in a manner that reduces income taxes. MACRS is also applied to other assets and businesses including computer equipment, farm buildings, racehorses, and so on. Another mechanism is the Investment Tax Credit (ITC), a federal tax credit claimed against the tax liability of utility investors in solar energy property. Moraine Solar is not expected to receive any cash subsidy during construction or operation. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT How does one apply to obtain intervenor funding? Intervenor funding will be available after the Section 94-c permit application is submitted to the Office of Renewable Energy Siting later in 2021. Moraine Solar will need to provide $1,000/MW ($93,550) in intervenor funding, of which a minimum of 75% is reserved for the host municipalities.

A notice of intervenor funding communicated after the Section 94-c application is submitted would inform the community of the timeline and method for applying for intervenor funding. How does EDF Renewables plan to engage the local community to communicate the project and obtain feedback? A thorough community engagement process began more than two years ago. First, the EDFR team was engaged in numerous calls and meetings with officials from the Town of Burns, Allegany County and Allegany County IDA to discuss the project and address any questions or interests brought forward.

Public meetings were held in the village of Canaseraga in December 2018 and April 2019. Each meeting was attended by 50-75 people and gave the EDF Renewables team an opportunity to present information about the project including its location, timeline, permitting process and community benefits.

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Members of the public can share feedback with the project team or ask questions at any time by dialing 833-333-7369 or emailing [email protected]. Our team is also available to meet with individuals and local organizations who have questions or need more information. A copy of the Public Involvement Program plan is available here. Additional public meetings will be held in 2021. VISUAL BUFFERING I heard about visual buffering. What does that mean? EDF Renewables is sensitive to designing a project that is well received by the community and can be well integrated into the area. Features such as visual buffers typically created by planting vegetation along roadsides and adjacent to neighboring homes near the project help soften the visual impact of the facility and maintain the rural character of the area. My property is on a hillside that overlooks Moraine Valley. Because my property is on a hillside, how will you implement a visual buffer? Will this decrease my property value? Concerns over property values have been raised repeatedly, driving numerous studies on this topic. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has examined property values across the United States. Their studies demonstrate that large-scale solar arrays often have no measurable impact on the value of adjacent properties and in some cases may even have positive effects. Furthermore, the proximity to solar farms does not deter the sales of agricultural or residential land. In regard to visualization issues, large solar projects like Moraine Solar Energy Center are similar to a greenhouse or single-story residence and the integration of visual buffers, such as natural vegetation, trees, and green fences lessen the visual impact of the project from neighboring homes and roads.

The Moraine Solar project will contribute $300,000 per year in new revenues to the Town of Burns, and Canaseraga Central school district. These new revenues will help fund local services and infrastructure, reduce the pressure on local property taxes and provide for local school districts for decades to come. These are all factors that can help keep property values strong in the area. For more information, please consult the Solar Association fact sheet on property values. https://www.seia.org/sites/default/files/2019- 09/Solar%20Property%20Value%20FactSheet%202019-PRINT_1.pdf OTHER How does a first responder turn the power off to protect themselves? The site management team would be responsible for shutting down the power. This would be done through our 24/7 Operational Control Center or local operations staff.

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With technology changing so rapidly, won’t these panels and batteries become obsolete, meaning replacement and higher electric costs for all? Or, will the local utility look to other sources or methods of power generation that are much cheap? Once the solar panels are installed, they are intended to produce electricity for 30-40 years. Much of the world is turning to renewable energy, including solar energy. There are benefits created by replacing fossil fuel generation with renewable energy. For example, “analysis from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, both affiliates of the U.S. Department of Energy, estimates the health-related air quality benefits to the southeast region from solar PV generators to be worth 8.0 cents per kilowatt-hour of solar generation”. Will this project impact electric and magnetic fields? A study performed by independent experts in this field from the University of Massachusetts: “Study of Acoustic and EMF Levels from Solar Voltaic Projects, prepared for Massachusetts Clean Energy Center by Tech Environmental, Inc.” in 2012 concludes that:

• “At the utility scale sites, electric field levels along the fenced PV boundary, and at the locations set back 50 to 150 feet from the boundary, were not elevated above background levels.” • “The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection has a recommended exposure limit of 833 mG for the general public. At the utility scale sites, magnetic field levels along the fenced PV array boundary were in the very low range of 0.2 to 0.4 mG. Magnetic field levels at the locations 50 to 150 feet from the array boundary were not elevated above background levels (<0.2 mG).” The Power lines run directly across my property. What adverse effects will the increased voltage have and how the dirty electric will be addressed? The Moraine Solar Project will be connecting to the NYSEG Moraine substation located near Arkport Canaseraga Road, south of State Route 70. A number of studies are conducted to assure that integrating the electricity generated by Moraine Solar will not impact the overall reliability of the power grid, including the 115 kV transmission line that is connected to the NYSEG Moraine substation.

The voltage of the existing infrastructure in the area will not be changed due to the Moraine Solar project. The project electricity will be injected at the same voltage as the existing infrastructure. The Section 94-c permit application will include additional information on the electric system effects.

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Every project is different but there are few undeniable benefits for landowners, communities, and the environment. If you want to learn more about how you can participate in a wind or solar project with EDF Renewables, let’s connect.

EDF Renewables 15445 Innovation Drive San Diego, CA 92128 858.521.3300 www.edf-re.com

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