Agenda - 03-20-1979 - Laserfiche WebLink

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AGENDA ITEM 7 ORANGE COUNTY 186 EAn NfAxcA3=LAN% FLYMX1S80n0T1GE3.N.C. 27278 MEMORANDUM TO: Orange County Board of Commissioners FROM: Carol Fitzgerald, Energy Coordinator DATE: March 15, 1979 RE: County Preparations for a Petroleum Shortage The North Carolina Emergency Energy Plan calls for the creation of Area Fuel Councils and County Energy Panels to aide in implementing emergency programs. The organizational structure will not be created until funds are available to the state to hire personnel. The State is divided into seven Area Fuel Councils, who will gather information from and provide information to County Energy Panels (three individuals in each county) and report to the State. The Orange County Energy Office recommends that the Orange County Board of Commissioners appoint an INTERIM EMERGENCY ENERGY COMMITTEE to prepare for the impending petroleum shortage. Members should include the Agricultural Extension Service agent , County Civil Defense officer, County Energy Coordinator, and representatives of Chapel Hill and Carrboro. President Carter and Governor Hunt have already requested that citizens voluntarily adjust thermostats and other consumption of petroleum products to conserve as much as possible. Schlesinger told Congress an February 28 that "it is possible that at some time we may have to invoke temperature controls or weekend closings (of service stations) before summer." (Durham Morning Herald, March 1, 1979, p. 1). Governor hunt has mandated that government building temperatures be reduced. The Department of Administration is currently setting temperatures in state buildings. The interim emergency energy committee would familiarize itself with the emergency energy plan, and ensure smooth implementation of these programs as they are required. Programs which may be invoked include voluntary or mandatory strategies such as practicing good conservation habits, limiting retail store hours of operation, and closing service stations. The State Set Aside Program, which provides petroleum products to consumers w-ith hardship or emergency cases, will continue to operate as it has for the past five years, although its impact will increase as supply dwindles. The state may also invoke the federal government's five contingency plans which limit outside lighting and temperatures, and limit eligible consumers of gasoline an weekends. The emergency energy committee would ensure that information and means for implementing these programs are provided to those who will carry them out. The committee would also update the Commissioners on the status of the petroleum situation and their activities. A more detailed report on the emergency energy plan will be provided to each Commissioners. The State Emergency Energy Plan is available in the Energy Office to those who wish to review it.