You know that these projects are more like marathons than sprints if you’ve ever tried to run a large scale solar farm. Problems keep cropping up when you least expect them. So what is it that confuses developers so much? A lot of things, to be honest.

The first thing that springs to mind is land. Finding a piece of land that is big, flat, sunny, and close to power lines is not easy. It’s like trying to find a four-leaf clover in the cold. Farming, animals, or possible urban growth could already be taking up a lot of open space. Landowners don’t always want shiny panels next to their cornfield or prairie, but you might be able to find them if you look in the right place. People who don’t want something because it’s “not in my backyard” could make a huge issue out of it at town meetings.

Let’s say you’ve taken care of the land problem. The stack of papers is here now. You have to get through a lot of permits, environmental studies, agreements to connect to the grid, and municipal rules. Sometimes, developers have to wait years for one green light. Utilities want everything to be planned and paid for, but investors want a sure thing. This is a classic catch-22. This conflict might slow things down a lot.

It’s hard to foresee what will happen with environmental problems. If engineers locate wetlands, endangered animals, or old artifacts, they may have to start anew. When developers make plans for projects, they have to think about how animals migrate and the plants that are special to the area. Someone forgetting about a turtle nest can sometimes cause a job site to be placed on hold for weeks.

Then there’s the money show. It costs a lot to build. The price of panels keeps going down, while the cost of steel, labor, and permits is going up. Also, banks and investors want to make money, so any difficulty hurts profitability. Some planned projects are put on hold before any work has started.

The grid itself is also a problem. Rural systems don’t always have the capacity to handle a lot of extra electricity, especially when it’s hot and windy in the afternoon. It can take years and millions of dollars to make lines better.

No matter what, the march goes on. Changes are continuously happening to developers. It’s just as vital to be creative and patient as it is to know how to make things. Building a solar power plant is not for the faint of heart. It’s like spinning plates on a windy day as everyone watches and holds their breath.