Davey Tree Flipbooks

15 May/June 2023 | THE DAVEY BULLETIN field in 2018 but grew as the client saw positive results. In 2022, they then asked Morse if his team could do some mowing in between solar arrays on several sites. "We said, 'Sure, why not?'" Morse said. "The focus is on maximizing energy production and limiting erosion at the array sites." Now, at several of the sites DRG does a combination of mowing between arrays and spraying beneath the panels. "When we're spraying underneath the panels, most of what we spray are invasives, but we are specifically spraying woody plants and anything that can grow tall enough to impact production." SEEING A SOLUTION Morse partnered with the Davey Institute to fine-tune the chemical applications using a boomless spraying technique. Zane Raudenbush, turfgrass and herbicide specialist, the Davey Institute, designed a spray apparatus that uses multiple nozzles to spray material at varying distances. Spraying without a boom eliminates the chance of a boom hitting power generation infrastructure or struggling to adjust to changing topography. The spray apparatus can be attached to a truck or utility vehicle. "So, the applicator is in a safer situation, as they are not exposed to the herbicides directly as if they were using a backpack sprayer or dragging a hose and spraying," Raudenbush said. An added bonus of working with the Institute is that Morse can tailor his spray applications to treat for specific plants to eliminate invasives and promote more desirable species. "This approach improves the safety, efficiency, proficiency, and overall quality and control of the service we are providing," Raudenbush said. KEEPING THE 'LIGHT' ON Tree removal work was performed by Eastern Utility services crews from the southern New England area after DRG client Clearway learned that numerous hazard, dead or dying trees were blocking sunlight on one of its solar array fields and reducing power output. Shaun Barber, account manager, Eastern Utility, said utility crews performed the removals at three large, separate solar array sites throughout 2021 and 2022. "Now the solar output on those arrays is back up to 100 percent," Barber said. Additionally, Barber partnered with DRG to contract for line clearance work around transmission lines sending power from the solar arrays to the electric grid for Clearway. A SERENE SCENE For many utilities, beautifying the landscape around their infrastructure is an important part of being a steward of the communities they work in. For Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp., they looked to DRG to help with buffer plantings around two of their solar fields outside Cincinnati, Ohio. DRG and the Davey Nursery are planting more than 2,000 large balled and burlapped trees and shrubs, more than 2,800 container shrubs and perennials, and seeding about 18,600 linear feet of buffer screening area this spring. DRG's partnership with Algonquin includes a one-year maintenance agreement for watering, pruning, weed control, and fertilizing the installed plants. Davey Commercial Landscape Services crews will water the plantings in summer, while DRG crews will selectively treat for weeds to ensure healthy establishment of the pollinator areas. "We will be installing a variety of native trees and shrubs to break up the visual impact of the solar fields and to screen the fencing," said Corine Peugh, senior project manager. "The more high-visibility buffer areas will have native perennial plantings, in addition to the pollinator-based seeding, included as part of the installation." Far left: This custom spray rig attached to the front of this Davey truck was designed to eliminate the need for a boom apparatus for herbicide applications. Left: Davey inspected this solar array site during the construction process to ensure environmental compliance standards were met. Right: This aerial image shows the Piney Creek Solar Array under construction for Davey client Dominion Energy in Virginia. Davey employees served as environmental compliance coordinators (ECCs) for the duration of the solar field's construction. ECCs examine stormwater controls, erosion controls, chemical and waste management handling procedures, pollution prevention practices and more – all the on-site processes intended to mitigate environmental impacts during construction.

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