Minutes 06-15-2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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WHEREAS, the UNC-Chapel Hill cogeneration plant is responsible for more than 320,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions every year, contributing to global warming; and WHEREAS, coal mining is often socially and environmentally destructive, and UNC's coal may be extracted using mountain top removal, a method that causes egregious damage to the environment and communities of Appalachia; and WHEREAS, the energy cost savings from burning coal are actually shifted to increased public health and environmental costs; and WHEREAS, a representative of the group Citizens for a Coal-Free Community presented a petition on April 20, 2010 for the Board of Commissioners' consideration; and WHEREAS, on May 7, 2010, UNC Chancellor Holden Thorp issued a statement adopting the recommendations of his appointed Energy Task Force, committing the campus to be coal-free by the year 2020; and WHEREAS, the Commission for the Environment has reviewed the petition and the status of the plant with recommendations regarding needed future monitoring. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County board of commissioners thanks the Citizens for a Coal-Free Community for raising this issue and shares the interest in public health and the move away from coal as an energy source for the UNC co-generation facility. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board applauds the actions of Chancellor Thorp to make the university coal-free by the 2020, thanks the Commission for the Environment for its thoughtful consideration of the implications of this planned energy source change, and encourages the University to proceed on this path towards a coal-free future at all due speed, mindful of the implications and monitoring needs that are critically important to assess the impact of this change. VOTE: UNANIMOUS 8. Reports a. Triangle Regional Transit Public Involvement Plan The Board received an update on the Triangle Regional Transit Public Involvement Plan process and status. Craig Benedict reviewed the information in the agenda abstract. The purpose of this Public involvement Plan is to educate the public about the benefits of the Triangle Regional Transit Plan and to insure the involvement and collaboration of various regional stakeholders prior to consideration of a %2-cent sales tax referendum possibly being considered for a November 2011 ballot. A Steering Committee was created to assist with implementation of the Public Involvement Plan. He is representing the County on the Committee. July 7th will be the first of several outreach meetings to explain the process to the public. The meeting will be at the Chapel Hill Library. The website is www.ourtransitfuture.com. He will continue to give updates to the Board of County Commissioners on a regular basis. There will be a lot more information when the Board comes back in August. From what he has heard through the Assembly of Governments, the possible rail line goes from Wake Forest to Raleigh, through