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6 <br /> 1 <br /> 2 BACKGROUND: <br /> 3 As initially introduced at the June 6, 2017 Board of County Commissioners meeting, this <br /> 4 resolution petitions the Governor of North Carolina to take steps to reduce emissions of <br /> 5 methane associated with the increased use of natural gas produced through the process of <br /> 6 hydraulic fracturing ("fracking"). Natural gas is often termed a "bridge" interim source of energy <br /> 7 on the path to a future where renewable energy sources dominate. However, the production <br /> 8 and use of natural gas often includes sizeable releases of methane, a very significant <br /> 9 greenhouse gas. <br /> 10 <br /> 11 This resolution asks the Governor of North Carolina to take steps to reduce the use of natural <br /> 12 gas in North Carolina that is produced by fracking, as well as prevent the transport of natural <br /> 13 gas produced by fracking through North Carolina, and prevent the construction of new natural <br /> 14 gas fired power plants and pipelines in the state while existing natural gas fired power plants <br /> 15 and pipelines are replaced with sources of renewable energy. <br /> 16 <br /> 17 Commissioner Marcoplos said every "Whereas" in the resolution is followed by a <br /> 18 footnote, which can be reviewed in detail by reading the resolution on line. <br /> 19 Commissioner Marcoplos read the resolution: <br /> 20 <br /> 21 RESOLUTION TO SLOW THE CLIMATE CRISIS BY REDUCING METHANE EMISSIONS <br /> 22 FROM THE FRACKED GAS AND POWER INDUSTRIES <br /> 23 <br /> 24 WHEREAS, an unprecedented, three-year global heat wave,' ongoing sea level rise and <br /> 25 increasingly intense weather extremes are already devastating communities, wildlife and <br /> 26 property in North Carolina and around the world;2 and <br /> 27 WHEREAS, those least responsible for causing this crisis have been hurt first and worst, <br /> 28 primarily low-wealth communities and people of color, and humanity is quickly running out of <br /> 29 time to slow this enormous challenge before it accelerates under its own momentum beyond <br /> 30 our control; Sand <br /> 31 WHEREAS, methane is 80-100 times more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping Earth's <br /> 32 heat,3 and has become the driving force behind the rapid heating of the planet;4 and <br /> 33 WHEREAS, large amounts of natural gas —which is mostly methane — are being vented and <br /> 34 leaked directly into the air from various gas equipment, with emissions measured at rates of up <br /> 35 to 12% of the total gas produced by wells using fracking technology;5 and <br /> 36 WHEREAS, these emissions make burning natural gas for electricity at least three times worse <br /> 37 for the climate than coal,6 in addition to other health impacts and explosion risks;' and <br /> 38 WHEREAS, the recent surge in methane emissions is largely due to the US fracking boom,$ <br /> 39 which is being driven by Duke Energy and other utilities' expanded use of gas to generate <br /> 40 electricity;9 and <br /> 41 WHEREAS, most US gas and electricity corporations are fighting efforts to reduce methane <br /> 42 emissions; 10 and <br /> 43 WHEREAS, reducing methane emissions can be achieved quickly and cost-effectively while <br /> 44 creating thousands of jobs;11 and <br /> 45 WHEREAS, immediately reducing methane emissions from the US natural gas industry can <br /> 46 slow global warming enough to allow time to replace fossil fuels with cheaper clean energy such <br /> 47 as solar, wind and storage technologies;12 and, <br /> 48 NOW THEREFORE be it resolved that North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper shall use his <br /> 49 constitutionally-granted executive authority to ensure that: <br />