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70/Cornelius Street Corridor and the proposed UNC Hospital Systems new facility in <br /> Waterstone Village. <br /> Economic Development Director Brad Broadwell made this presentation. <br /> Progress Report from Orange County Economic Development Department <br /> As presented to the Orange County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) <br /> Presented by Brad Broadwell, Director Orange County Economic Development <br /> Department <br /> September 1, 2009 <br /> Solar for Agriculture <br /> In an effort to expand the renewable energy market and support Orange County's agricultural <br /> enterprises, Economic Development staff has been working with USDA Rural Development <br /> representatives to develop a program to educate Orange County's farmers about funding <br /> opportunities for energy efficiency and renewable energy opportunities for their existing <br /> operations. The USDA Rural Energy for America (REAP) program provides grant and loan <br /> funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades such as solar water heaters, <br /> solar pumps, and insulating existing structures. While this program offers partial funding to <br /> make these energy saving changes more affordable to small farmers, additional capital is <br /> required. By coordinating with local vendors and utilizing the North Carolina Energy <br /> Improvement Loan fund (which recently received a large infusion from stimulus monies) we <br /> hope to provide a comprehensive and streamlined opportunity for small farmers to make <br /> energy saving improvements to their operations. <br /> Proposed Solar Installation on Construction & Demolition (C&D) Landfill <br /> As part of the solar cluster development white paper in May 2009, the installation of a solar <br /> array on the closed portion of the county's C&D landfill was proposed. This project would <br /> serve several functions with respect to the advancement of a solar cluster: <br /> • It would be a visible reference project, which would be especially powerful given this <br /> would be the second renewable energy (after methane) utilized from the landfill; <br /> • It would serve as a concrete sign of County's support of the future of solar/renewable <br /> energy; <br /> • It could serve a potential community education forum; <br /> • It would build local solar market-attract future business; and <br /> • It would provide revenue generation from an underutilized public resource. <br /> The project would utilize the closed portion of C & D landfill because its site characteristics <br /> make a solar installation plausible —this area of the landfill is expected to have minimal settling <br /> and minimal methane production. In compliance with existing permit requirements, the <br /> installation would not puncture landfill or otherwise adversely impact landfill cap and would <br /> allow activities required by landfill permit would continue (required operations and <br /> maintenance would activities not be altered). <br /> The project approach would utilize a third party financing model, with no county capital funds <br /> anticipated. The current economic climate for renewable energy provides generous tax <br /> incentives for renewable energy installations — 35% state tax credit, 30% federal tax credit OR <br /> 30% federal grant in lieu of credit, and accelerated depreciation. Because governments can't <br />