Agenda - 05-08-2014 - 5a - Laserfiche WebLink

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27 contours, very minimal grading, 4 or 5 ten foot square 100 square foot pads inside the plant that have an inverter and a transformer. And then we will re -plant the project, and at the end of the day the project will have approximately 1 percent impervious surface. This is a project just completed in Orange County. This is the White Cross Solar Farm. This gives you an idea of — that's just a pretty good perspective of what panels look like and how we follow the existing contours. I feel like that's been very positively received in the County - The White Cross Solar Farm. The panels are polycrystalline silicon photovoltaic cell panels. As you just saw, they are flat blue in color. Sun hits the panels, hits really what is very similar to computer chip material, and that creates a small amount of DC current. Each one of those panels is like a giant tributary. It's sort of like water coming down a mountain. The DC current accumulates in this tributary system. It's converted to AC current in each one of these inverters and then the transformers convert it to exactly the same power that's in the Duke Energy local lines. This is a completely passive system. There is not fuel; there is no waste; no emissions; no noise; no moving parts; no operator. It's a truly passive renewable energy system. We are required to obtain, from the North Carolina utility commission, a certificate of public necessity and convenience for each plant. We've obtained probably 70 of these at this point. And it is the policy — it is the public policy of the state of North Carolina to promote renewable energy. The power is sold to Duke Power under a long term 20 year power purchase agreement contract. That contract is also regulated by the utility commission, and the projects are financed through a combination of tax credit investors and the income from these power purchase agreements. We will of course obtain all necessary DEANR permits, DOT permits and a local electrical permit. We don't usually get a building permit, because we don't really do any construction. The project will not impact municipal services, schools, utilities. A typical project is surrounded by either the installed buffers Mr. Harvey spoke about, or has existing buffers, and those buffers are generally subject to conditions that you all could set. At the end of the 20 or 30 years, if the project is extended, they are easily removed, and the site is put back to — close to - its original condition, and in general, the salvage value exceeds the removal. This - I think Mr. Harvey had a better map — shows the location of the project, and it's surrounded by a variety of uses - I believe within the center —in a long range plan area - designated area for commercial development. These are some of the uses around the facility and things that we think create a similar impact- a large scale single family residential development; a manufacturing facility; warehouse; there is a public works facility adjacent to the site; a large school facility. Mr. Kirkland will speak in more detail about this, but solar farms are low impact developments. They create no noise, no emission, no odor, no hazardous materials and almost no traffic — one trip a month to maintain the site. They are much lower in height, traffic, noise, light, etc. than most other development. They are literally dark at night. We don't propose any lighting on this sight. It is a passive use and it generally harmonizes with adjacent uses and it establishes the certainty of a long term, low intensity use. Our engineers will speak to the following issues in general. This project will not endanger the public health or safety. The project will meet all of your codes. The project will generate less than trip per month, and no utilities are required or used. In conclusion, these are your general SUP conditions, and we would just like to close by saying that we feel like we are going to present evidence that we meet all three of these conditions. The use will maintain or promote the public health, safety and general welfare. The use will maintain or enhance the value of contiguous property, and the use is a public necessity. And the location and character of the use is in harmony with the area, and in compliance with your comprehensive plan. Thank you very much. If you have any questions, I would be glad to answer them.