Orange County NC Website
4 <br /> Whereas, leading economists, policy experts, and business leaders conclude that <br /> transitioning to a clean energy economy available for all would create millions of green jobs <br /> nationally, improve health and living standards, and boost economic growth in coming years; <br /> and <br /> Whereas, low-income communities and communities of color in North Carolina and the <br /> United States are inordinately exposed to pollution, that causes serious health problems such as <br /> cancer and asthma, from fossil fuels, including the dirtiest coal-fired power plants which produce <br /> coal ash, and need to be empowered and have access to educational tools and an awareness of <br /> climate issues; and <br /> Whereas, a Stanford University and University of California-Berkeley study concludes <br /> the United States energy supply could be based entirely on renewable energy by the year 2050 <br /> using current technologies and 80% renewable energy by 2030 while creating numerous green <br /> jobs; and <br /> Whereas, municipalities, organizations, businesses, and academic institutions throughout <br /> the world have set a goal to achieve carbon or climate neutrality by 2050 or earlier; and <br /> Whereas, over 1,000 mayors have joined the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate <br /> Protection Agreement since 2005 to commit to significantly reduce carbon emissions in their <br /> cities to combat climate change; and <br /> Whereas, over 600 American colleges and universities have made a commitment to <br /> reduce greenhouse gases, including Appalachian State University, Blue Ridge Community <br /> College, Carteret Community College, Catawba College, Central Carolina Community College, <br /> Davidson College, Duke University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State <br /> University, Guilford College,North Carolina Central University, Queens University of Charlotte, <br /> Southeastern Community College, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of <br /> North Carolina at Charlotte, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, University of North <br /> Carolina at Pembroke, Wake Technical Community College, and Warren Wilson College; and <br /> Whereas, North Carolina installed 1,140 MW of solar electric capacity in 2015, ranking it <br /> second nationally; nearly $1.7 billion was invested on solar installations in North Carolina, a <br /> 159% increase over the previous year; there are currently more than 200 solar companies at work <br /> throughout the value chain in North Carolina, the state companies employing some 6,000 people; <br /> North Carolina ranks third in the nation in installed solar capacity, enough to power 260,000 <br /> homes; and solar photovoltaic system prices in the U.S. have dropped by 66% since 2010; <br /> Whereas, North Carolina has more offshore wind energy potential than any other Atlantic state; <br /> and <br /> Whereas, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fifth Assessment Report <br /> recommended a global goal of achieving near zero greenhouse gas emissions or below, which is <br /> necessary to stabilize the global average temperature to avoid climate catastrophe; <br />