Scenic Hudson's Solar Mapping Tool for Your Hudson Valley Community
 Worksheet

You can print and use this form to record information developed with the Solar Mapping Tool to support smart solar energy planning in your community. 

While using Part III of the Solar Mapping Tool, you can take notes and make observations about  the existing development patterns in your community, the opportunity and least-conflict sites for solar development that you identify, as well as information to make a preliminary assessment of solar development feasibility. 

Then, you can then use this previously recorded information to help you identify and combine the important data layers in Part IV of the Solar Mapping Tool to inform final planning and zoning and other decisions.

A Note about Local Knowledge and Existing Plans and Codes

To be complete, the smart solar planning process must incorporate local knowledge of on-the-ground conditions as well as community values and priorities. In addition, it is important to be familiar with existing local codes and plans that apply to solar development. Prior to using the Solar Mapping Tool, we suggest you gather all relevant municipal plans and codes for reference and consideration while using the tool, such as:
•	comprehensive plans;
•	zoning codes and zoning maps; 
•	natural resource inventories and agricultural preservation plans; and
•	any other information relevant to land use, climate, and renewable energy planning in the community.

Use this space to list and take notes on these materials. 

Step 1: Assess Existing Development Patterns 

Land cover data documents how much of a region is covered by forests, wetlands, impervious surfaces, agriculture, water (including wetlands or open water), and other land types. When mapped, it illustrates the development patterns of a community, and can help you identify large patches of developed areas or open (agricultural) areas. 

Developed areas: Record the largest developed areas in your community as a starting point to guide the identification of these previously disturbed solar opportunity areas.

Agricultural Lands: Note large aggregations or patches of agricultural land cover in your community (if any) as a starting point to find locations that maximize both solar energy and agricultural production.

What are the general development patterns in your area of interest? Include notes on any preliminary assessment of potential areas for solar development based on these patterns. 

Step 2: Opportunity Areas for Solar Development on Existing Development and Previously Disturbed Areas

Rooftops of Buildings with Large Footprints
Record the locations of buildings with footprints of 20,000 square feet (half-acre) or more in your area of interest that may represent opportunities for rooftop solar.

Pre-Screened Re-Powering America Sites 
Record the locations and any important details for these sites in your area of interest, if any. 

Mined Lands
Record the locations of any sites in this data layer that, combined with local knowledge, may present opportunities for solar energy development in your area of interest.

Other Previously Disturbed Areas
Based upon local knowledge and aerial mapping, identify any other previously developed or disturbed areas that might be re-developed for solar energy. 

Step 3: Identify locations for solar that minimize negative impacts to valued resources

Protect Agricultural Resources
The Solar Mapping Tool provides mapped locations of three classes of Farmland Soils as well as Agricultural Districts. Record the locations of these resources as a starting point for development of policy that achieves both agricultural and solar energy production.

Farmland Soils 

Agricultural Districts 

Avoid Important Wetlands and Floodways
This Tool provides information on federally and state-mapped wetlands, and FEMA floodplains. Record the location and extent of these resources. 

National Wetlands Inventory 

New York State Wetlands 

Flood Zones 
In some cases, areas in the Floodplain Fringe (outside of the Floodway) may be suitable for solar development.  Does your community have any such areas?

Protect Biodiversity and Habitat
The Solar Mapping Tool provides mapped information on important biodiversity areas and core forests. Record the extent and location of these resources. 

Important Areas for Biodiversity 

Core Forests 

Preserve the Integrity of Historic, Recreation, and Protected Sites

Smart solar development avoids impacts to important publically designated historic, cultural and aesthetic resources. The Solar Mapping Tool provides information on sites listed in the National Register of Historic places as well as protected areas. Record the existence and location of these mapped resources. In addition, list any important designated public visual resources in your area of interest.  

Advance Energy Justice with Solar
Siting solar development in communities that have faced inequitable treatment in the past can help these communities access clean, new, and reliable sources of electricity.  Are there such opportunities to advance energy justice in your community?

Step 4: Assess Solar Feasibility and Interconnection Potential

The Solar Mapping Tool provides information useful for determining a site's feasibility for solar development, which are the topography of the land and interconnection potential with the grid. Using this information, record the locations of lands with solar development potential as well as observations on hosting capacity in the distribution system and the locations of high-voltage transmission lines, if any. 

Surface Topography 

 

Hosting Capacity

Transmission Lines

In Part IV, you can apply what you have learned about the opportunities and resources in your community to plan for smart solar development.