Environmental Justice
Leading with respect and sensitivity is always step one at Origis. Recognizing disadvantaged communities deserve a special approach is at the front of the Origis’ development process. The Origis team has specific experience in places with very high environmental justice concerns, such as Hawaii, Mississippi, Florida, and elsewhere. Beginning with site selection itself, Origis takes note of potential impacts on specific local communities. The study and science of Environmental Justice is deployed via our Tier 1 Permitting Consultants and experience here is part of our team formation decision process. We also recognize that an enhanced awareness is needed as the solar industry itself grows larger and larger. Similar to our Tribal Relations approach, Origis seeks to maintain specialists with specific Environmental Justice experience to assure our neighbors are both heard and understood where needed. While not new, Origis’ is planning for our Environmental Justice activities to expand.
Solar + Pollinators
Origis has a designate solar pollinator program to assure the underlying land remains productive and supportive, particularly in our farming communities. While solar is rightly perceived to take up a lot of land space, it is incorrectly assumed the land is non-productive. Origis takes a scientific and verifiable approach based on established pollinator scoring and implementation methodologies.
Pollinator Planning Key Points:
- All pollinator plans are scored using a state-specific, regional, or neutral scorecard. Scoring systems typically have flexible ways to “earn” points.
- The process to determine, track and measure pollinator aspirations and success is based on the Scoring System.
- An achievable baseline Score will be determined during Development, then it will be tracked and maintained through all phases of a project.
- The Score is the key. The program goal is to set a baseline Project Pollinator Baseline Score, then flexibly maintain or increase the Baseline Score through time.
Modest pollinator investments where applicable can achieve very significant, community supportive, results. Origis is open to our customers sharing in this effort and contributing towards an even higher Project Score, if desired.
Long Term Project Operations
Origis Services employs operations and maintenance strategies best suited to the twin goals of energy generation and environmental stewardship at each site, including the control of control erosion, water runoff and chemical use. Where automation can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the company is testing soiling, vegetation control and other advances.
Our use of chemicals to maintain vegetation is kept at a minimum. As an environmentally diligent organization, Origis is vigilant over the controlled and limited use of herbicides, for example.
Fertilizers: Despite the use of fertilizers to encourage grass growth on some solar projects, Origis does not ever use fertilizer. The use of fertilizers, through water runoff, can result in algal bloom in surface water, which can render environmentally toxic results. Origis Services never purchases nor applies fertilizers of any type.
Herbicides: At times and for very specific reasons, herbicides are utilized at the sites. Plant growth that can hinder the energy generation of the site has to be contained. This includes climbing prickly vines for example. Left unabated, they will entangle and shade parts of these systems, which then impacts the production of those systems. Origis uses as little herbicides as possible to maintain the site and does not use Round Up.
Surfactants and Diesel: Vegetation management approaches can call for the use of surfactants including diesel to help herbicides adhere to the plant growth. This results in less use of herbicides while creating the same desired effect on the plants. Origis does not agree with spraying diesel, in any amount, on the ground in any of facilities. This is, however, a common practice, not just in our industry, but in vegetation management.