Galactic Solar is a 150MW single-axis tracker, utility scale solar field located on approximately 1,400 acres in Grayson County, TX.

Manhard assisted in providing a system that will avoid and maintain critical environmental aspects located on site, while generating an efficient layout to meet the desired power output set forth by the owner. In addition to ongoing engineering assistance, Manhard provided surveying services to streamline and expedite the project timeline.

Manhard provided civil, stormwater engineering, and permitting services to the client.  Being  the first permit submittal that DuPage County processed for solar panel installations, a significant amount of coordination was required with the reviewing agencies. 

The proposed panel installation will be constructed on a little used area of the property, located adjacent to critical wetlands.  Furthermore, a portion of the installation is located in a floodplain and riparian buffer area.  DuPage County determined that they will require detention for solar panel installations.  As such, significant design and coordination was required for this installation to be viable.  Ultimately, Manhard facilitated a variance to be considered for providing detention onsite, as the cost to construct the required detention facility was prohibitive.  In addition, the location had been a former environmental contamination site, further limiting the potential to remove dirt from the site to provide detention.

The project is currently in the permitting phase, and will be constructed in Fall of 2020, and, once constructed, will be the first solar panel installation (not constructed on the roof of a building) to be located in the County.

Manhard provided full site design services for a solar array on a 53-acre parcel containing an elementary school and a middle school.  Challenges included limited buildable area due to wetlands, floodplain, tree conservation and shading. Manhard started with a conceptual array layout plan, accounting for shading, topography, access/circulation and natural resource constraints to help validate production estimates. Manhard then provided full civil engineering design, landscape architecture, zoning/entitlement assistance and permit management for the project.

Concerns about obstructed views from residential neighbors.  were tackled by Manhard’s civil engineering and landscape architecture teams who came up with a solution utilizing native landscaping and fencing to properly screen the view from neighbors.  We brought our 2D design to life with a 3D rendering to ultimately pacify the concern and allow the project to receive zoning approval.

Manhard provided additional services including electrical utility layout and coordination, topographic and boundary survey, natural resources consulting and acted as the main client representative in permitting with the school district zoning, engineering, building, fire and transportation departments.

Manhard provided preliminary civil engineering and permitting services to the client.

The proposed panel installation will be constructed on a little used area of the property.  Lake County has determined that neither detention nor volume control are required for solar panel installations.  In addition, a portion of the installation is located within a designated “scenic corridor”, so permitting with respect to tree relocation is required.  In addition, a permit is still needed to ensure compliance with soil erosion and sediment control requirements while the project is under construction.

The proposed design will incorporate relocation of numerous trees within the project vicinity to an approved location through “scenic corridor” requirements. 

Manhard Consulting provided surveying services in support of the Idemitsu Renewables’ Solar Frontier Americas 80MWp Pioneer Solar project on 750 acres located east of Denver in Adams County, Colorado.

Land Surveying services included: on-site and off-site topographic mapping, ALTA/NSPS land title surveys, and easement descriptions.

The project has been completed and began operating in the fall of 2020.

Manhard provided civil, stormwater engineering, and permitting services to the client. The proposed panel installation will be constructed on a little used area of the property, a portion of which is located in the floodplain, and surrounding an existing detention facility.  A wetland delineation was performed on the property, but no jurisdictional wetlands were found.  While Kane County does not require detention to be provided for solar panel installation, Stormwater Volume reduction is required.  The County has established a unique calculation methodology to determine the amount required.

The proposed design will incorporate a bio-swale planted with native vegetation to help infiltrate stormwater runoff and reduce stormwater volumes leaving the site.  In addition, compensatory storage will be provided for any fill placed in the floodplain as part of this installation.

The project is currently in the Preliminary Engineering Phase, and is proposed to be constructed in Fall of 2020.  Manhard will provide construction phase services to ensure compliance with all required soil erosion and sediment control regulations.