Landowner Resources
Why Landowners Choose to Partner with Apex
Apex Clean Energy is a home-grown American company founded with a singular focus: to accelerate the shift to clean energy through the development, construction, and operation of world-class wind, solar, and energy storage projects. We’ve grown from humble beginnings as a Virginia-based small business to a mission-driven team of nearly 400 professionals.
Apex’s core values of Safety, Professionalism, Integrity, Entrepreneurship, and Sustainability are embedded in everything we do. Whether through our deep relationships with project communities, our unwavering commitment to safety, or our ability to overcome obstacles and get difficult projects done, we ground our work in staying true to these principles. We keep our partners involved and informed throughout the leasing, permitting, construction, and operation of their projects, and we place great value on going above and beyond to meet community needs.
Isabella Wind | Isabella County, MI
“Apex was more willing to meet our terms and come up with what we felt was a better lease. In the lease, we try to protect the land and the landowners as much as try to get a bigger payout for the participants.”
Wheatsborough Solar | Erie County, OH
“The key is really getting to know the company you want to work with. We found our compatible company with Apex. They offered more through development, top to bottom communication, having people available if you had an issue. They have done a really good job of being sensitive to the farmers needs as well as the community needs, so we’re pretty proud of partnering with Apex.”
Timbermill Wind | Chowan County, NC
“Apex stuck with it. They never gave up on the project and they never gave up on farmers like me who wanted to harvest the wind. Now we have the turbines, the source of income, and the clean energy and it’s really taken almost no land.”
Aviator Wind | Coke County, TX
“Working with Apex was a smooth process and I enjoyed working with everybody. ... As the chief financial officer of the county, you’re always looking for revenue. The revenues are going to be quite a good shot to the county’s coffers.”
Heritage Wind | Orleans County, NY
“Apex has been a wonderful supporter of our community and a great partner for landowners. We have wind farms in neighboring towns and look forward to welcoming wind energy to our community to lighten the burden of town property taxes.”
Coldwater Solar | Branch County, MI
“All of the Apex team members have been excellent. Any time that I get in touch with them or have questions, they’re very straightforward. I never feel like they’re holding back. They’ve been very open and upfront with the community, and I am proud to be affiliated with them.”
Sugar Creek Wind and Mulligan Solar | Logan County, IL
“Apex is in a class of its own! Every member of the Apex team has exceeded my expectations. They tell us what they are going to do, they do what they say they would do, and they follow up with the community when perhaps they no longer need us, but they are not going to forget about us.”
Downeast Wind | Washington County, ME
“It's an area that people are used to seeing as a working landscape for many generations. Apex was very respectful in how they came to the local community and how they had staff here. The company did a lot of things right.”
Soul City Solar | Hinds County, MS
“Apex will be one of the largest taxpayers in the county—I think that's a plus. Everything I understand about this project is a win-win for our county.”
Prosperity Wind | Piatt County, IL
“I’m skeptical of any big company coming to a small town to do business, so I was surprised when Apex revised its proposal based on feedback it heard from the community.”
Landowner Stories
No project is possible without the support of the landowners and communities that host renewable energy facilities. Hear firsthand from those who have been through the process.
Ranching the Solar Frontier
Since the 1870s, the McDonald family have been stewards of their San Angelo ranch, a legacy that began with Mary Margaret’s ancestor M.B. Pulliam. Now, solar represents “a new crop” for the land that has supported them for generations.
“Solar is clean and doesn't have any bad effects on our neighbors. We felt it was a win-in.”
-Mary Margaret McDonald
Powering a Better Future for Family Farms
Over the years, the Walker and Ostrander families considered various means of diversifying their agricultural income, but it wasn’t until they were approached about using their land for a new purpose—harvesting the sun—that they found the right fit.
“I had to look back and see what my ancestors would have thought about solar. I realized that my father and mother would have been pleased to do this if it made a better life for their family.”
-Brian Walker
Development
Community Outreach
Open houses, public meetings, and other events may be held to introduce you to Apex team members and inform landowners, residents, and local officials about project plans. A local Apex office may also be opened for drop-in visits. Apex team members will seek to answer questions about the project and what it means for the community.
Land Leasing
Apex representatives will meet with local landowners to determine whether they would be interested in leasing land to host solar arrays or other project facilities. The leasing process can take months or even years.
Studies
Apex will coordinate with federal and state agencies to study the presence of wildlife and ensure the project is sited to eliminate or minimize any adverse impact. During this time, a variety of additional studies will also be conducted, including solar resource analysis, cultural surveys, soil and geotechnical sampling, stormwater/drainage conditions, and development of a vegetation management plan for the site.
Design
As we complete our land leasing efforts, collect final study results, and come closer to selecting the specific solar module and racking system that will be most efficient for a particular project, we will refine out plans for the project’s layout. Most project layouts are modified multiple times before being finalized.
Designing a Solar Project
Permitting
Laws vary by state, county, and locality, but in most places Apex is required to secure local permits and approvals to build a solar energy facility. These may include construction permits, special use permits, road use agreements, floodplain permits, state siting permits, and others.
Construction
Roads
Access roads are constructed and local road improvements are made before project components arrive, then are maintained and repaired as needed.
Construction Guide
Site Preparation and Pile Installation
Project perimeter fencing is installed and steel piles are driven into the ground that will hold the racking system and solar modules. Permanent or temporary ground cover is typically planted during this phase to prevent erosion and preserve soil health.
Component Deliveries
Solar modules, racking systems, and inverters are transported to the construction site and staged nearby until they are ready to be installed.
Grid Interconnection
The underground electrical collection system connecting each solar array to the inverter and substation is trenched and installed. The project substation is built and the project’s interconnection to the local electric grid is established.
Restoration
Following construction, the site is restored as much as possible to its preexisting state. Permanent ground cover is planted or re-seeded inside the fence line on solar projects, tree screening is planted where required outside the fence, and any remaining area outside the fence remains accessible to the landowner for farming or other uses.
Take a Virtual TourOperations
On-site maintenance
Once a project is operating, a crew of technicians will routinely conduct maintenance on the facility. Led by a facility manager, often based out of a local operations and maintenance building, these teams keep a close eye on the facility at all times to ensure that it functions efficiently and safely. Solar panels are routinely inspected to maintain appearance and efficiency.
Remote Operations
Back at Apex’s headquarters in Charlottesville, Virginia, a 24/7/365 remote operations team coordinates with the local crews to optimize power generation, respond immediately to any mechanical issues, and manage integration with the local energy market.
Curious what it is like inside a solar farm?
Take a quick look inside Wheatsborough Solar, of one of Apex's Ohio Solar projects.
