How do solar construction jobs help the economy?
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Every major construction project creates short-term jobs that pay real wages, support local families, and put money back into the economy. Solar construction sites in particular have a place for workers at every level—from first timers to veteran laborers—providing opportunities to learn new, transferable skills on-the-job.  Clearway requires our construction contractors to prioritize hiring local workers for our sites wherever possible.

With Rainbow Springs Solar, those jobs bring paychecks that get spent right here, at restaurants, grocery stores, supply shops, and more. That ripple effect supports even more businesses and workers across Cherokee County, long after construction is done. 

The economic study references more than the 300 jobs needed to build and run the site – where do the rest of the jobs come from?
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The Wichita State University study illustrates how Rainbow Springs Solar creates jobs beyond the construction site. First, building the project brings 300 direct jobs. Then, local businesses that supply goods and services for the construction site create additional jobs. When workers spend their paychecks—on groceries, meals, and everyday items - it supports even more job growth. The same ripple effect continues after construction is finished. For a more detailed explanation please see pages 3-4 of Wichita State University’s economic impact analysis.

How do we know the Rainbow Springs economic study is credible?
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The economic study was done by the Barton School of Business at Wichita State University, one of Kansas’s most respected business programs. They used a standard method that’s trusted by economists to measure local economic impact.

Think of it like this: building Rainbow Springs Solar is like dropping millions of dollars into the local economy. The study measures how those dollars ripple out, supporting jobs, businesses, and economic growth.

In Kansas right now, clean power, including solar, wind and battery storage, is providing $30.9 million every year in property, state and local taxes, according to the American Clean Power Association. Rainbow Springs Solar offers a way for Cherokee County to benefit from similar revenue as other Kansas communities are today.

How much land will be used for this project?

Rainbow Springs Solar will have a small footprint while benefiting everyone in the county. Less than 1% of total land in Cherokee County will be part of the total leased area of project. Of that, only a fraction will be under solar panels--less than .2% of county farmland. The rest will remain open.  

Our partnering landowners are electing to temporarily rest their fields, completely voluntarily, as is their right. At the end of the project’s life, as outlined in the decommissioning process and agreement we will sign with the county, the project owner is legally required to return the land to its original condition, so it can return to cropland if desired.  

These leases bring in stable income every year, no matter the weather or crop prices. They can make a huge difference for farmers wanting to keep their farm in the family, protecting it from permanent forms of development.
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The project is also looking at the possibility of hiring sheep farmers to graze the land while the solar farm is in operation, which would allow for livestock production during the project’s life.

Will you use solar equipment made in the USA?

Domestic solar manufacturing has grown exponentially in the United States within the last few years. Clearway partners with major American suppliers to source solar panels, racking systems and other materials for our sites. By procuring made-in-America solar equipment, Rainbow Springs will support US workers throughout the supply chain.

How environmentally friendly are solar panels?

Solar panels are designed to be safe and durable for the long-term, made with the same kind of tempered glass found in hurricane-proof windows. Like your cellphone, they are designed to crack and not shatter. They also don’t contain fluids that can leak or pollute the soil or water, even if badly cracked, and no part of the panel is buried underground.

Small amounts of conductive metals are in solid form are either chemically bonded together or encased in tempered glass and plastic to prevent exposure to the environment. Clearway currently requires that all solar panels we procure undergo EPA Toxicity Characteristics LeachingProcedure (TCLP) testing to ensure no toxic leaching can occur, even if heavily damaged.

Learn more here

In less than a year, solar panels pay back all the energy used to produce them—and then keep generating clean power for decades.

Already in Kansas, clean energy, including solar, wind and battery storage projects, are avoiding 10,401,000 metric tons of carbon emissions, equivalent to taking 2,260,000 cars off the road, according to theAmerican Clean Power Association.
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Can solar panels be recycled?

At the end of the project’s life, Clearway is required to remove all equipment and restore the site to its prior condition. We will provide a detailed decommissioning plan to ensure that this happens.  

Clearway commits to reusing or recycling as much of our equipment as possible. We work with solar recyclers across the US to conserve materials like glass and aluminum, keeping solar panels out of the landfill.  

How much water will the solar farm use?

Solar farms use very little water during operations, beyond routine panel rinsing. No water is used to generate power. Studies show solar has one of the lowest water-use footprints of any power source.

Is this project paid for with our tax dollars?

Rainbow Springs Solar is entirely privately funded, bringing new investment into Cherokee County. Additionally, the developer will make a voluntary $5 million community benefit payment to Cherokee County, plus will pay over $33 million more in new tax revenue over the first 20 years of the project.

Will this project receive any federal tax credits?

Federal tax incentives for solar development (like incentives for agriculture, manufacturing and other forms of energy) impact the amount of federal taxes the project will pay during operations. They do not allocate public tax dollars into the solar project or impact the amount of local taxes the project will pay. Building solar here means that Cherokee County can benefit from these incentives instead of another county or state. 

Do solar farms release anything into the land or groundwater?

Solar panels are designed to be safe and durable for the long-term, made with the same kind of tempered glass found in hurricane-proof windows. Like your cellphone, they are designed to crack and not shatter. They also don’t contain fluids that can leak or pollute the soil or water, even if badly cracked, and no part of the panel is buried underground.

Small amounts of conductive metals are in solid form are either chemically bonded together or encased in tempered glass and plastic to prevent exposure to the environment. Clearway currently requires that all solar panels we procure undergo EPA Toxicity Characteristics LeachingProcedure (TCLP) testing to ensure no toxic leaching can occur, even if heavily damaged.

Learn more here

Does solar create more stormwater runoff and soil erosion?

Clearway will plant natural vegetation under and around the panels, improving topsoil health and reducing erosion. The vegetation acts like a sponge, soaking up water and retaining it in the soil.

Additionally, solar farms are legally required to create and follow stormwater management plans with measures to control erosion and sedimentation under the Federal Clean Water Act. State and local agencies enforce this requirement.

Does solar impact property values?

That’s a common concern, but there’s no solid evidence that solar lowers nearby property values.

In fact, a 2020 study by the University of Rhode Island found no consistent negative impact, and sometimes modest increases in property value, when solar is well-sited and buffered.

Rainbow Springs will be screened and built to minimize any visual or noise impact. It creates no traffic, no odors, no light or noise pollution and no industrial runoff.

And, as a study by Wichita State University shows,Rainbow Springs will provide increased economic value to the county overall, paying over $33 million in new property taxes just in the first 20 years.  

What happens when the panels wear out or the project is over? Will they go to our landfill?

The Rainbow Springs project will be dismantled at the end of its life, with a commitment to recycling the solar panels used.  

Clearway will sign a decommissioning agreement with Cherokee County and have plans in place to return the land to its original state at the end of the project’s life. This agreement requires us to abide by certain clean up and decommissioning procedures. The process includes safely disposing of or recycling materials such as solar panels and concrete, as well as restoring the land to its natural state by planting native vegetation. 

Will construction damage our county roads?

Clearway understands how important good roads are, and that’s why we will be signing a road use agreement with Cherokee County. This will commit us to restoring any public roads used during construction, leaving them in better condition than when construction begins, on our own dime.

Not only is the construction and operation of the solar farm placing no additional burden on county resources, but it is also actively contributing to making the county better for everyone. Rainbow Springs Solar will make voluntary economic payments and pay additional tax revenue totaling $38 million over 20 years - that’s money that could be used to maintain roads throughout Cherokee County. This additional money can help maintain good, safe roads for generations.  

Does solar create fire risk?

Fire at solar farms is extremely rare. There are well-established policies and procedures for handling unlikely occurrence (less than 1%) of a fire at a solar farm. Clearway will work ahead of time with local first-responders to develop a response and emergency management plan. As a member of the Cherokee County community, protecting residents, employees and visitors is our highest priority.

Can we put solar panels over parking lots, or on warehouses or other large buildings instead of farmland?

Covering a parking lot or roofs are a common suggestion, and there are many companies that focus on that. Unfortunately, it isn’t feasible or cost-effective for utility-scale power generation, which is necessary to meet America’s increasing energy needs. You can learn more from this article from the Center for Rural Opportunity and Power.

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