Agenda - 10-14-2014 - Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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I Orange County State of the Environment 2014 Highlighted Recommendations from the Orange County State of the Environment 2014 Air and Energy Resources 1 1. Orange County should work with Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough to update the 2005 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory and Forecast for the county, and assess our progress toward the emissions - reduction goals recommended in the 2005 Greenhouse Gas Emissions report. 2. Orange County should collaborate with its citizens and with civic organizations that are organizing for clean energy policy at the local, state, federal, or international level. 3. Orange County should incentivize green building techniques by offering reduced building permit fees for commercial and residential buildings that achieve demonstrable energy savings. 4. Orange County should continue to reduce the amount of solid waste sent to landfills by implementing a "pay -as -you- throw" system and stop trucking Orange County solid waste to the Durham transfer station. Land Resources 1. Orange County should work with its partners to protect at least 12% of county land area by 2020, with focus on Natural Heritage Areas, and develop a comprehensive conservation plan for a network of protected space throughout the county. 2. Orange County should continue educating and assisting the agricultural community with the Voluntary Agricultural District and Present Use Value Taxation programs. 3. Orange County should increase efforts to encourage homeowners and businesses to choose regionally native species for landscaping. Water Resources 1. Orange County should increase efforts to gather information related to water resources in Orange County; including data about surface water and groundwater quality, as well as concerning groundwater quantity. State -led efforts in these areas continue to decline due to budget and staff reductions. 2. Orange County should undertake a campaign to inform the public about invasive aquatic species, including their current extent in our waterways, the likely ramifications of the occurrence of these species in Orange County, and what steps can be undertaken to slow their spread or eliminate them locally. 3. Orange County should continue to increase public awareness and understanding of water supply sources, related concerns, and what steps can be undertaken to improve or maintain the quality and quantity of our water supply resources.