Is it OK to build solar farms close to Travis AFB?

Thu Dec 5 2024

Short answer – absolutely, it is supported by the Air Force, and there are dozens of major solar installations near other Air Force Bases, including Luke (Arizona), Davis-Monthan (Arizona), Nellis (Nevada), Eglin (Florida), and Robins (Georgia). For longer answer, read on.

Solar installations near Air Force Bases

“The increased risks driven by climate change cannot be addressed by emission reductions in the Air Force alone, but the Department of the Air Force will be part of the solution. Improving energy efficiency and deploying advanced energy technologies will not only decrease emissions but will help mitigate combat risk and increase operational capability.”

Department of the Air Force Climate Action Plan, 2022

Military investments into renewables have risen significantly in the last two decades. DoD spending on clean energy is projected to surpass $10 billion annually by 2030—25 times greater than the $400 million spent on clean energy investments in the early 2000’s—and the Air Force is now the largest clean energy purchaser of any federal entity. Earlier this year, the Department of Defense (DoD) was awarded an additional $55 million in federal grants for initiatives aimed at improving energy resilience and efficiency.

Solar farms can reduce energy users’ dependence on the grid, keeping power on even during blackouts. They also reduce strain on the grid by shifting demand to off-grid clean energy, making the grid more reliable and resilient—and significantly improving air quality—for everyone.

Operating solar farms on or near airport runways is common and safe. Airport operators have long operated on-site solar farms to create sustainable sources of clean, low-cost energy to power terminals, hangars, temperature, lighting, and more. Sometimes, concerns have been raised about glare, but solar panels are coated to absorb light, which helps minimize any potential glare. As a result, they generate a similar level of glare as things like lakes and parking lots.

A mix of rooftop and ground-mounted arrays help power many civilian airports, including Denver, Indianapolis, O’Hare and San Francisco International Airports. Tallahassee International, for example, currently operates a 62 MW facility across nearly 400 acres, about 700 feet from its runway.

In 2021, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) formally recognized these facts and established policy for solar energy system projects and safety, which in part stated that “in most cases, the glint and glare from solar energy systems to pilots on final approach is similar to glint and glare pilots routinely experience from water bodies, glass-façade buildings, parking lots, and similar features.”

As long as glare impact analysis is conducted to inform safe configuration of the panels, an airport solar facility may present a level of risk similar to that of a river, lake, or coastline near the airport. Building on the 2021 policy, last year, the FAA committed $92 million in grants to 21 airports for solar and other sustainability investments to help airports reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

Solar installations by California Forever

California Forever has proposed building solar farms on lands it owns near Travis AFB. Any such installations would require approval from Travis to ensure the technology, location, and design for any solar farm is acceptable. Planning will include a glare study and possibly adjusting panel orientation to minimize potential impacts.

With all necessary steps taken, solar projects can be compatible with airport operations and create beneficial use of land that has otherwise limited uses due to noise, airspace, or other operational concerns. We are committed to working with Travis to ensure any proposals meet requirements to protect ongoing base operations while furthering a critical clean energy transition. We are also excited to explore building solar farms on our land whose output is dedicated for use by Travis AFB, thereby helping the base’s sustainability and resilience goals.

Travis AFB has recognized the compatibility of our plans, including the solar farms proposed there, with flying its full mission in the statement published on its website on February 15, 2024, where Travis AFB stated:

“California Forever made significant changes to its plans in order to protect Travis’ global mission and local flight operations. With this revised proposal, Travis AFB will be able to continue flying its full mission, including all of our operational, exercise, and local training flights consisting of multiple patterns and landings to all runways, including night vision goggle training to the assault landing zone (ALZ) runway. Travis AFB recognizes California Forever’s efforts to minimize impacts to operations and mission capabilities, as well as their project’s potential to improve the wellbeing of our Airmen and families into the future.”

Examples of solar near military airports across America

Many military airports successfully operate solar farms. Most notably, last year, Edwards AFB in California opened a 1,300-MW system—the largest project of its kind in US Air Force history, as well as the largest private-public collaboration in DoD history. The nearly two-million panel facility is estimated to power over 238,000 homes and annually save over 320,000 tons of emissions.

There are many other examples of solar farms built near our Air Force Bases. Here are just some of those other examples:

1. Luke AFB in Arizona operates a 10 MW solar farm on 105 acres immediately adjacent to their airfield.
2. Davis-Monthan AFB in Arizona provides 16.4 MW of solar power across 170 acres approximately 1,000 feet from their airfield.
3. Across two solar farms, Nellis AFB in Nevada provides about 33 MW over 242 acres approximately one mile from its airfield.
4. Eglin AFB in Florida operates a 30 MW solar farm across 240 acres about one mile north of their airfield.
5. Robins AFB in Georgia produces 128 MW of power across 650 acres approximately 1.5 miles from its airfield.

• Share
• 
• 
• 
• Copied!