Shaping Orange County's Future Final Full Report

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PROTECTING AIR QUALITY Air quality is protected and standards adhered to through achievement of the county's transportation plan goals. Transportation plan goals to protect air quality focus on reducing dependency on single occupancy vehicles through provision of alternative means of transit, auto - free zones and pedestrian- oriented, mixed use development, as well as by encouraging the use of less - polluting, alternatively fueled vehicles. Increasing emissions reduction technology and use of alternative - fueled vehicles has greatly reduced air pollution from automobiles in Orange County as well as across the nation. Air quality is also protected by businesses that are environmentally friendly and have strategies for reducing emissions, such as using energy efficient building construction, using solar rather than electric power, buying material locally so as to reduce truck transit, and promoting telecommuting as a means to reduce vehicle miles traveled. ENERGY CONSERVATION All building construction in Orange County meets energy efficiency standards, and public buildings must use maximum, cost - effective energy efficiency technology. To further encourage energy conservation homebuyers are made aware of the energy use of prospective home purchases. Energy conservation is also achieved through the county's widely used transportation system. The towns and county have joined the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign and created and implemented a local action plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the county. Implementation of the plan has decreased government energy consumption and provided energy savings. FOSTERING AN ECONOMY THAT MEETS LOCAL NEEDS The county seeks to accommodate and keep growing businesses that need to expand, and it selectively recruits new businesses that meet the community's needs. In particular, the county supports and recruits businesses that are non - polluting and environmentally friendly; that employ local people; that utilize "waste" resources (i.e. reuse waste to make new products); that have a positive impact on the tax base; and that pay a living wage, thus allowing people who work in the county to live here as well. SUPPORTING A DIVERSE ECONOMIC BASE Orange County's economy is based on a balanced mix of larger institutional, commercial and industrial operations and numerous, small businesses. UNC and UNC Hospitals continue to be major economic forces in the county. Businesses have been and are recruited to the towns, the villages within town transition areas, the Economic Development Districts along I -85, and to a new economic development node in northern Orange County. Farming has remained a viable way of life in rural areas and an important part of the local economy. Homegrown, local entrepreneurship is encouraged, including UNC -CH and UNC Hospitals spin -off enterprises, innovative agriculture and related businesses, and cultural and heritage arts programs which attract tourism. A comprehensive skills development center and technical and vocational community college programs continue to prepare people for mid -level jobs and for entry level jobs with potential for advancement. Governments support start -up and maintenance of desired 95