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2 <br />2 Critical Issues <br />3 • Invasive, non - native, plant and animal species threaten the biological diversity of <br />4 Orange County's aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Non - native species replace <br />5 natives, threatening critical ecosystem services such as plant pollination and posing <br />6 risks to livestock, land, and public health. <br />7 • Important data on the quality and quantity of Orange County's surface water and <br />8 groundwater will remain unknown as reductions are made in State -led data <br />9 collection efforts. <br />10 • If drilling for natural gas begins in the Deep River basin, nearby Orange County <br />11 residents could experience negative impacts to air quality, water quality and <br />12 supply, and infrastructure. <br />13 • We need to do more to improve our air quality, chiefly by making changes that <br />14 result in less reliance on cars. Locally, this can be achieved by: (1) increased <br />15 availability and use of transit alternatives, including bus, rail, bicycle, and <br />16 pedestrian pathways; and (2) town and county planning that fosters denser, <br />17 walkable communities, reduces sprawl, and allows the clustering of development <br />18 in urban buffers. The installation of ozone monitors could help track air quality <br />19 more accurately. <br />20 • Orange County should continue to support the responsible deployment of clean <br />21 and appropriately -sited renewable energy. <br />22 • Reducing energy use is the first step in fighting climate change. Orange County <br />23 has made great strides in improving the energy efficiency of the buildings under <br />24 its management. We can build on this progress by investing more in energy <br />25 efficiency programs for residential, commercial, and other government buildings. <br />26 <br />27 Jan Sassaman reviewed the following air and energy recommendations from the second <br />28 page of the report: <br />29 <br />30 Highlighted Recommendations from the <br />31 Orange County State of the Environment 2014 <br />32 Air and Energy Resources <br />33 .1. Orange County should work with Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough to update the <br />34 2005 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory and Forecast for the county, and assess our <br />35 progress toward the emissions - reduction goals recommended in the 2005 Greenhouse <br />36 Gas Emissions report. <br />37 2. Orange County should collaborate with its citizens and with civic organizations that are <br />38 organizing for clean energy policy at the local, state, federal, or international level. <br />39 3. Orange County should incentivize green building techniques by offering reduced building <br />40 permit fees for commercial and residential buildings that achieve demonstrable energy <br />41 savings. <br />42 4. Orange County should continue to reduce the amount of solid waste sent to landfills by <br />43 implementing a "pay -as -you- throw" system and stop trucking Orange County solid waste <br />44 to the Durham transfer station. <br />45 <br />46 Land Resources <br />47 1. Orange County should work with its partners to protect at least 12% of county land area by <br />48 2020, with focus on Natural Heritage Areas, and develop a comprehensive <br />49 conservation plan for a network of protected space throughout the county. <br />50 2. Orange County should continue educating and assisting the agricultural community with the <br />