Agenda - 01-31-2012 - 3 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY COMMISSION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT MEMORANDUM To: Board of County Commissioners Frank Clifton, County Manager From: Renee Price, Chair Date: December 16, 2011 Re: Proposal to Preserve Optimal Solar Sites within New Developments The Commission for the Environment (CFE) is interested in working with the Planning Board to explore new ways of promoting the use of solar energy in Orange County. The CFE's Energy Resources Committee has examined efforts by some local governments to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions within their jurisdictions. One particular approach that shows promise here in Orange County is to secure viable locations for energy production throughout the county. Toward that end, the CFE is interested in working with the Planning Board to craft an ordinance that would require or provide strong incentives for developers of residential and commercial properties to set aside areas on site for immediate or future generation of solar (photovoltaic-P~ energy. This energy could be used by the particular development or sold to the regional power utility. The designated area could be within the development's open space or in a designated common area for utilities, whichever would provide maximum value for energy generation and distribution. The requirement (or strong incentive) would apply to all applicable commercial and residential developments where certain metrics are met for optimal design performance. There may also be subsidies or tax credits available that would further encourage larger scale PV projects. This proposed action would help implement Goat #1 of the Orange County Comprehensive Plan, Natural and Cultural Resources Element: Energy conservation, sustainable use of non-polluting renewable energy resources, efffcient use of non-renewable energy resources, and clean air (Orange Co. Comprehensive Plan, P. 6-9). If successful, Orange County could create a model template for other local governments to consider for adoption. A representative of the CFE has introduced this idea to members of the Planning Board and the Planning Staff for initial consideration, and both have responded favorably. The Planning Staff encourages the inclusion of this item on the County's work program, and this proposal has been included as an emerging issue (bulleted item #6) in the CFE's 2012 work plan. The CFE requests the BOCC's consideration of this proposal, and welcomes feedback and direction in order to move this idea forward. cc: David Stancil, Craig Benedict, Brian Crawford COl2LltiLGSSGO/~. for the ~i~.virah.t2cevi.t C/O OrAr~e Cout~.tlf AE.4PR PO goX 8181, ftillsborOUyh, NC 2~2~8 ~1~~ 2~5--2510 45