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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: September 1, 2009 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. -7 -- q <br />SUBJECT: Update of Activities on Orange County Economic Development Efforts <br />DEPARTMENT: Economic Development PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Hospital Information Brad Broadwell 245-2325 <br />PURPOSE: To provide the BOCC with an update of activities on Orange County economic <br />development efforts including: the development of a Solar Cluster; the partnership with the <br />Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce promoting the Buy Local program; discussions <br />with Buckhorn Partners, LLC on designing a state certified business park at the Buckhorn EDD; <br />and discussions with the Town of Hillsborough regarding the incubator development along the <br />US 70/Cornelius Street Corridor and the proposed UNC hospital systems new facility in <br />Waterstone Village. <br />BACKGROUND: Discussion will focus on information as presented at the May 5, 2009 Board <br />of County Commissioners meeting, the Economic Development Commission's strategy and <br />vision for the development of a solar cluster in Orange County. One component of this vision <br />included the very real possibility of a solar .5 MW solar array on a closed portion of the Orange <br />County landfill. This potential installation would serve several purposes: <br />• It would be a reference project to showcase the application of solar technologies; <br />• It would allow the county to obtain a small revenue from an underutilized public asset; <br />• It would be a visual confirmation of Orange County's acceptance of renewable energy; <br />• It would provide market demand for local solar companies; and <br />• It would allow the County to tap two renewable energy sources from the county landfill <br />(methane and solar) which to our knowledge, has not yet been done in the state of North <br />Carolina. <br />At this point it is requested that the BOCC authorize staff to initiate a Request for Proposals <br />(RFP) process for a solar installation at the County landfill. The RFP would be presented to the <br />Board before it is issued. Additionally the BOCC will be update on discussions with NCDOT <br />regarding a solar highway in Orange County, local solar activities for farmers, and solar <br />outreach and education for local businesses. The Economic Development Department's <br />business attraction efforts of Solar companies will also be presented. <br />