AbstractAnalyzing Impacts of Solar Power Development on Visual ResourcesTrack: Environmental Management Author Solar power is a critical element of the nation's energy policy because of its promise of clean, renewable energy. However, environmental analysis for siting utility-scale solar power plants reveals that even though solar power is a "green" technology, building and operating large solar power plants adversely affects some natural resources. In the Southwestern United States, where solar power is most viable, scenic beauty is an important natural resource subject to major impacts from solar energy development. This paper discusses potential impacts on visual resources due to changes in land use that would allow utility-scale solar power plants on public lands in the Southwestern United States. The paper details the role of geographic information systems in visual resource inventory and management and discusses the unique data development and sampling methods required. The challenges of analyzing viewshed scenarios for multiple large areas prior to project siting and design are also addressed. Brian Cantwell Argonne National Laboratory 9700 S. Cass Ave. Building 240 Argonne, Illinois 60439 United States Phone: 630-252-6802 E-mail: bcantwell@anl.gov James Kuiper Argonne National Laboratory 9700 S. Cass Ave. Argonne, Illinois 60439 United States Phone: 630-252-6206 E-mail: jkuiper@anl.gov Robert Sullivan Argonne National Laboratory 9700 S. Cass Ave. Building 240 Argonne, Illinois 60439 United States Phone: 708-252-6182 E-mail: sullivan@anl.gov |