Orange County NC Website
8 <br /> put 100 amps in a piece of wire, it does have an electromagnetic field, but if you had — if the <br /> utility has 200 amps in that wire before, and this facility puts 100 amps — it actually takes away <br /> 100 amps that would be going to substation to this point. So the net effect of having local <br /> generation is to reduce the overall electromagnetic fields that would be surrounding the <br /> conductors that would leave this facility and go across public land, or other people's property. <br /> The piles that we mount the racks on will be driven into the ground. We try to do the minimum <br /> amount of ground disturbance that we have. But there would be a sediment and erosion control <br /> plan, and it would be approved by the County before any construction starts. There is no <br /> pollution, radioactive spent fuels, coal ash, fracking or chemicals. This is probably the most <br /> benign, safest way we can produce electricity that we know of now on this utility scale. <br /> I would just like to say, the North Carolina Public Utilities Commission has issued a certificate of <br /> Public Convenience and Necessity for this project, so it would not have gotten to this point if the <br /> North Carolina Utilities Commission did not think that it was a necessary production for <br /> renewable energy. I'm here to answer any questions. <br /> Merrick Parrot: I just have one follow up question for you. Did you prepare an affidavit for <br /> this? <br /> Chris Sandifer: I prepared an affidavit. <br /> Merrick Parrot: Ok. And Commissioners that is the affidavit that's located behind tab 3 of your <br /> booklet. <br /> Chris Sandifer: And my testimony tonight is the same as that affidavit. Are there any <br /> questions? <br /> Chair McKee: Questions from the Board? <br /> Commissioner Jacobs: How often do you have occasion to review a site and find it not <br /> suitable for a solar array? <br /> Chris Sandifer: I would say most of the time—90 percent of the time—they're not suitable. In <br /> my experience, they— a lot of folks want them, but they're just not compatible. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs: And are you aware of any hazard to wildlife that might land on, or <br /> otherwise touch, the panels. <br /> Chris Sandifer: I'm not aware of any study that causes wildlife any problem. <br /> Chair McKee: Follow up? <br /> Commissioner Jacobs: No. He probably won't want to answer this question, but which <br /> elected official was it who claimed that the solar panels were stealing the sunshine from the <br /> adjoining jurisdictions? <br /> Chris Sandifer: I think I won't answer that question. <br /> Commissioner Rich: I have a question. <br />