Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
16 <br /> 1 where the proposed farm is going to be, if you are sitting on your deck and reading the <br /> 2 newspaper, are you going to hear that hum? <br /> 3 <br /> 4 Gabriel Cantor: We typically locate - the inverter has a fan for cooling purposes. That's the <br /> 5 piece of equipment that converts the DC electricity that's generated by the panels in the fields to <br /> 6 AC, which is the same type of electricity that flows through the wires in your house. That piece <br /> 7 of equipment has a fan for cooling purposes and a transformer associated, so there is a small <br /> 8 hum. Those are typically located in the middle of the field. In this case, the closest one to a <br /> 9 property line is about 300 feet. You would not be able to hear that until you approach within <br /> 10 about 50 feet has been my experience. So, you have to be inside of the property line to hear it. <br /> 11 <br /> 12 Commissioner Price: I have a question about the vegetation maintenance. You say you are <br /> 13 going to plant grass. I don't know how you're going to mow it underneath all those panels, but <br /> 14 I'll let you worry about that; but what about other vegetation? I mean, is there going to be <br /> 15 weeding, or you mentioned fertilizer? Will there also be any other pesticides, and how much, <br /> 16 because I am concerned about that runoff? <br /> 17 <br /> 18 Brent Niemann: We actually have specialized mowing equipment that can make a pass <br /> 19 underneath the panels. It's actually pretty interesting. It works pretty well. We wouldn't use any <br /> 20 more treatment to the grass than any other residential home would to establish a yard. So, to <br /> 21 the extent necessary to maintain weeds —we would not be applying any pesticides above and <br /> 22 beyond what you would apply to your house to grow grass. We treat it just like a lawn. It will be <br /> 23 just like a lawn. <br /> 24 <br /> 25 Commissioner Price: So, would you be able— I mean I'm asking you this now; but for future, <br /> 26 would you be able to provide a list of what chemicals you would be using, and how much. 1 <br /> 27 mean personally I don't use any on my lawn, so I can't gauge. <br /> 28 <br /> 29 Brent Niemann: Ok, so I personally have someone treat my lawn at home. <br /> 30 <br /> 31 Commissioner Price: I mean if you can't give an answer now - <br /> 32 <br /> 33 Brent Niemann: I don't know the specifics. <br /> 34 <br /> 35 Commissioner Price: Well could you provide that for us, or to staff? <br /> 36 <br /> 37 Brent Niemann: Sure, yes, we can do that, absolutely. <br /> 38 <br /> 39 Commissioner McKee: It was mentioned earlier in the presentation, about the runoff basically, <br /> 40 as I understood it, staying on the property. Will there be—Are you talking about building <br /> 41 sediment basins and control ponds to keep that on the site, or how are you going about that? 1 <br /> 42 am hearing some concern over that. <br /> 43 <br /> 44 Brent Niemann: Sure, as any development project, especially with the amount of clearing and <br /> 45 growing associated with this project— I believe your question earlier— I forgot to address that. <br /> 46 It's about 44 acres, is about the project disturbance acreage. Yes, we will be providing <br /> 47 sedimentation and erosion control features; more than likely a sediment basin or two, depending <br /> 48 on topography and location relative to the project. Post construction, at the White Cross Solar <br /> 49 Farm, because we have such low impervious values, less than one percent, we are able to <br /> 50 install typically, vegetated swales to treat the runoff. <br /> 51 <br />