Chapter 5 Threats
structures use various techniques to reduce the number of organisms that are impinged or entrained. These include slow intake velocities, fine-mesh screens, and periodically backwashing screens. In the future, there is potential for additional nuclear power plants or expansion of existing plants. In addition to the potential impacts described previously and terrestrial land conversion impacts, future nuclear plants will potentially impact river flows due to their dependence on water for cooling. Such river flow impacts could result from creating an impoundment and affecting a section of free-flowing water, pumping water from a river to maintain sufficient water in an impoundment, or expanding an existing reservoir and affecting the timing and volume of downstream flows due to increased demand for cooling water. 5.5.7 Solar Energy – Anticipated Impacts Electricity produced from solar power has increased greatly in North Carolina in recent years. Solar electricity is produced in two primary ways: concentrated solar power (CSP) and photovoltaic (PV). CSP, not currently used in North Carolina, uses mirrors or lenses to concentrate solar energy that drives steam turbines or similar devices that, in turn, generate electricity. PV captures light energy using solar panels and generates electricity directly. Solar cells for PV are small but are combined into connected modules and arrays. PV systems can be installed on rooftops or on land that receives adequate sunlight. In North Carolina, solar farms composed of many solar arrays on open land are becoming more and more common. Solar farms produce clean, renewable energy, but some sites may have impacts to terrestrial and aquatic wildlife resources. Most solar farms in North Carolina generate 5 MW of electricity or less but take up approximately 25 acres of land. However, there are also larger solar farms capable of producing up to 100 MW. Many solar farms are sited on cleared agricultural land that has been traditionally used for farming. Increasingly however, solar farms are proposed in forested areas that will require clearcutting to prepare the land for the solar farm. Currently peer-reviewed studies are insufficient to adequately assess all the potential impacts of PV solar farms on wildlife (Lovich and Ennin 2011) . The primary impact is conversion of wildlife habitat to cleared areas with solar arrays; the degree of impact depends on the quality of the habitat. Impacts will be fewer for solar farms constructed on cleared fields. Solar farms are typically enclosed with chain link fences so movement corridors for wildlife may be altered. In addition to direct impacts from the solar farm, new transmission lines may be needed to connect to the grid. New utility corridors can bisect large forest blocks or cross wetlands and streams.
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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