Orange County NC Website
9 <br /> 1 Chris Sandifer: I think I won't answer that question. <br /> 2 <br /> 3 Commissioner Rich: I have a question. <br /> 4 <br /> 5 Chair McKee: Follow up, reasonable question. <br /> 6 <br /> 7 Commissioner Rich: How long are the solar panels useful? <br /> 8 <br /> 9 Chris Sandifer: The manufacturer guarantees them to 97 percent of issue to 25 years. They <br /> 10 probably have a 30-year contract here, so even if they depreciate more than that— in thirty <br /> 11 years they would still have a tremendous value in place if they were 95 percent efficient. But <br /> 12 the history is showing that they're actually exceeding those depreciation rates right now. <br /> 13 They're tracking them. <br /> 14 <br /> 15 Commissioner Rich: So they're tracking them in Europe. They're not tracking them here, <br /> 16 correct? Because we haven't had them here. <br /> 17 <br /> 18 Chris Sandifer: I understand, but the degration schedule they were on —what they were <br /> 19 anticipating —they're actually are exceeding that. They're actually doing better than what we <br /> 20 had first anticipated they would do. They're guaranteed for 95 percent for 25 years. <br /> 21 <br /> 22 Chair McKee: Follow up? <br /> 23 <br /> 24 Commissioner Rich: I'm good. <br /> 25 <br /> 26 Chair McKee: Other questions? <br /> 27 <br /> 28 Chris Sandifer: Thank you. <br /> 29 <br /> 30 Brian Quinlan resumed the PowerPoint presentation: <br /> 31 <br /> 32 Public Health, Safety and General Welfare <br /> 33 ➢ Solar projects are safe for the community <br /> 34 • Low voltage <br /> 35 o Array at much lower voltages than substations and power lines <br /> 36 o System output voltage same as existing power line <br /> 37 • All wiring and electrical equipment are covered/sealed <br /> 38 • Design and construction meets all local electrical requirements as well as <br /> 39 national electric codes <br /> 40 • All equipment certified Underwriters Laboratories standards <br /> 41 • Facility fenced with locked gate to prevent unauthorized entry <br /> 42 • Solar panels are fully encapsulated/sealed with multiple layers including a glass <br /> 43 cover and aluminum frame <br /> 44 • Within 6 months of end of term of lease— components of the solar facility <br /> 45 removed, site fertilized and reseeded with native grass <br /> 46 o Decommissioning plan filed with the County Planning Dept. <br /> 47 ➢ Testimony by Chris Sandifer, PE <br /> 48 ➢ Review of publicly available information indicates no known archaeological, cultural or <br /> 49 historical resources <br />