Orange County NC Website
127 <br /> 17 <br /> 3. Noise <br /> These are passive solar panels with no associated noise beyond a barely audible sound during daylight <br /> hours. The transformer reportedly has a hum similar to a fluorescent light in an office building that can <br /> only be heard in close proximity to this transformer and the buffers on the property are sufficient to make <br /> emitted sounds inaudible from the adjoining properties. No sound is emitted from the facility at night. <br /> The various solar farms that I have inspected were inaudible from the roadways. I heard nothing on any of <br /> these sites associated with the solar farm. <br /> 4. Traffic <br /> The solar farm will have no onsite employee's or staff. The site requires only minimal maintenance. Relative <br /> to other potential uses of the site (such as a residential subdivision), the additional traffic generated by a <br /> solar farm use on this site is insignificant. <br /> 5. Stigma <br /> There is no stigma associated with solar farms and solar farms and people generally respond favorably <br /> towards such a use. While an individual may express concerns about proximity to a solar farm, there is no <br /> specific stigma associated with a solar farm. Stigma generally refers to things such as adult establishments, <br /> prisons, rehabilitation facilities, and so forth. <br /> Solar panels have no associated stigma and in smaller collections are found in yards and roofs in many <br /> residential communities. Solar panels on a roof are often cited as an enhancement to the property in <br /> marketing brochures. <br /> I see no basis for an impact from stigma due to a solar farm. <br /> 6. Appearance <br /> Larger solar farms using fixed panels are a passive use of the land that is considered in keeping with a <br /> rural/residential area. As shown below, solar farms are comparable to larger greenhouses. This is not <br /> surprising given that a greenhouse is essentially another method for collecting passive solar energy. The <br /> greenhouse use is well received in residential/rural areas and has a similar visual impact as a solar farm. <br /> 1111111 <br /> r <br />