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.•:• MEISTER <br /> June 2014 <br /> ,?N ,ULT A N-IS ( hi� ,•=' <br /> • ' I d <br /> As of June 2013,there were over 3o solar projects in operation at airports in 15 different states (Barrett <br /> 2013). Solar installations have been successfully located at or near US international airports in Boston, <br /> New York, San Francisco, and Denver, among others. Yet concerns over glint (a quick reflection) and <br /> glare (a longer reflection) often arise when a PV system is proposed on or near an airport. Pilots are <br /> familiar with both glint and glare as reflection is a common phenomenon,especially off of bodies of water <br /> or in the form of glare from the sun itself. However, issues can arise if the solar PV system were to cast <br /> glare into an air traffic control tower.' <br /> The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been actively reviewing the impact of glare from solar <br /> panels to streamline an evaluation process that ensures safety while creating more opportunity for solar <br /> installations on or near airports. The FAA filed notice of its Interim Policy for review of solar energy <br /> systems on federally obligated airports(i.e. airports which receive federal funding) in October of 2013.2 <br /> This policy requires that a sponsor of a federally obligated airport must request FAA review and approval <br /> to install solar on its "airport layout plan." Federally-obligated airports must also notify the FAA of its <br /> intent to construct any solar installation by filing FAA form 7460-1.The interim FAA policy also requires <br /> the use of the Solar Glare Hazard Analysis Tool for on-airport solar development. <br /> III. FAA and the'Solar Glare Hazard-Analysis Too <br /> In order to understand and model glare in accordance with FAA standards,Sandia National Laboratories <br /> developed the Solar Glare Hazard Analysis Tool(SGHAT).Standardized safety metrics define what glare <br /> intensity will cause unwanted visual impacts to Air Traffic Control towers and airplane pilots.SGHAT can <br /> be used to evaluate the potential of a particular PV array to produce glare intensity, predicting when and <br /> where glare will occur from a prescribed PV array at user-defined observation points (i.e. from the Air <br /> Traffic Control Tower or from a series of points along an aircraft landing route) and be combined with <br /> Google maps for an easy user interface.In instances where glare may be a concern,the tool can prescribe <br /> minor adjustments to the tilt, direction, and location of the panels to alleviate any issues. SGHAT will <br /> predict annual energy production for the various adjusted positions(SEIA/Sandia PPT). <br /> iV:-Ftaie tor L6CalGovernments► <br /> Local governments may wish to include airport guidance within their local zoning ordinances that <br /> address solar PV. The North Carolina Solar Center Template Solar Energy Development Ordinance for <br /> North Carolina3 includes a section on airports and recommends aviation notification steps for both on- <br /> airport solar projects and installations within 5 nautical miles of an airport. In addition to amendments to <br /> local zoning codes, local governments have the opportunity to conduct outreach to airports, <br /> http://www.unionleader.com/article/20120830/N EWS02/708309966/0/newhampshi re <br /> 2 <br /> http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-10-23/pdf/2013-24729.pdf <br /> http://ncsc.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/Template-Solar-Ordinance_V 1.0_1 2-2-18-I3.pdf <br /> SOLAR Powered by <br /> OUTREACH �•� L S h ot <br /> PARTNERSHIP U.S.Department of Energy <br />