It is also important to note that there are no decommissioning provisions required for these renewable energy projects, so it is uncertain who will be on the hook for restoration of the site, and for the disposal of the toxic material contained in the solar panels once the development is no longer viable. While the impacts from solar projects are nowhere near that of coal-fired power plants, photovoltaic modules are made from a witch’s brew of toxic chemicals. Arsenic, cadmium telluride, hexaflouroethane, lead, and polyvinyl fluoride are just some of the chemicals used to manufacture the various types of solar cells. Corrosive chemicals like hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid, nitric acid and hydrogen fluoride are used to remove impurities from and clean semiconductor materials. To phosphine or arsine gas is used in the doping of the semiconductor material.
The Vermilion River Stewardship supports green energy projects, as long as they are truly green, and that stakeholders and the community at large support it. However, it has come to our attention that property owners, Cairin Nelson and Michael Cropper, as well as many other stakeholders in the community are opposed to this project.