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2 <br />QRANGE CQUNTY <br />Economic Development <br />Commission <br />Esteemed members of the Orange County Board of County Commissioners: <br />April 30, 2009 <br />The Orange County Economic Development Commission would like to present to the Board of County <br />Commissioners a white paper entitled "Development of a Solar Cluster in Orange County'. The Economic <br />Development Commission (EDC) formally requests the Board's support in the advancement of a <br />renewable energy solar cluster in the county. The EDC fully supports this proposed initiative for the <br />following reasons: <br />• The proposed strategy is in compliance with the Economic Development Element of the 2030 <br />Orange County Comprehensive Plan, which calls for `Viable and sustainable economic <br />development that contributes to both property and sales tax revenues, and enhances high-quality <br />employment opportunities for County residents." (Section 3.5 of Comprehensive Plan); <br />• Just this week, UNC-Chapel Hill announced that it received a 17.5 million dollar grant to develop <br />solar fuels from next-generation photovoltaic technology, which would provide a foundation for <br />the development of this solar cluster; <br />• Renewable energy has significant economic growth potential and is consistent with the values <br />and goals of Orange County residents for sustainable, green initiatives; <br />• Data support future job growth of up to 440,000 jobs by 2016 in this sector nationwide; <br />• To develop the workforce needed for this sector, asolar-focused curriculum is already planned <br />for the Fall Semester of 2009 at the Orange County Campus of Durham Technical Community <br />College (DTCC); <br />• Jobs created in the energy sector tend to be higher paying than retail, and provide stable jobs for <br />people throughout a range of educational attainment; <br />• The transportation location of Orange County (at the intersection of both a major east-west and a <br />north-south highway) is ideal to attract and facilitate growth in this sector. The potential supply <br />chain to support this industry is already fairly well developed along the I-85 corridor; <br />• Development of this industry would allow us to reap the benefits of our proximate intellectual <br />environment, such as research universities and Research Triangle Park; <br />• The current federal stimulus funding supports significant growth in the solar industry; <br />• State legislation requires that energy companies in North Carolina obtain 12.5 % of their energy <br />portfolio from renewable energy production (Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio <br />Standard or RPS); and <br />PO Box 1177 • Hillsborough, NC 27278 <br />(919) 245-2325 • FAX: (919) 644-3008 <br />EMAIL: edcmailC~co.oranae.nc.us • WEB ADDRESS: www.co.orange.nc.us/ecodev <br />