Minutes 10-14-2014 Early Comm. for Environment

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Critical Issues • Invasive, non-native, plant and animal species threaten the biological diversity of Orange County's aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Non-native species replace natives, threatening critical ecosystem services such as plant pollination and posing risks to livestock, land, and public health. • Important data on the quality and quantity of Orange County's surface water and groundwater will remain unknown as reductions are made in State-led data collection efforts. • If drilling for natural gas begins in the Deep River basin, nearby Orange County residents could experience negative impacts to air quality, water quality and supply, and infrastructure. • We need to do more to improve our air quality, chiefly by making changes that result in less reliance on cars. Locally, this can be achieved by: (1) increased availability and use of transit alternatives, including bus, rail, bicycle, and pedestrian pathways; and (2) town and county planning that fosters denser, walkable communities, reduces sprawl, and allows the clustering of development in urban buffers. The installation of ozone monitors could help track air quality more accurately. • Orange County should continue to support the responsible deployment of clean and appropriately-sited renewable energy. • Reducing energy use is the first step in fighting climate change. Orange County has made great strides in improving the energy efficiency of the buildings under its management. We can build on this progress by investing more in energy efficiency programs for residential, commercial, and other government buildings. Jan Sassaman reviewed the following air and energy recommendations from the second page of the report: Highlighted Recommendations from the Orange County State of the Environment 2014 Air and Energy Resources .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.