Agenda - 09-05-2017 - 8-a - Minutes

Browse Search

7 1 • by December 31, 2018 no natural gas originating from fracking operations is used in or 2 transported through North Carolina; 3 • by December 31, 2022 no other natural gas is used in or transported through North 4 Carolina unless it can be verified that the methane emissions associated with its 5 production, transportation, and end use are at most 0.5% of gas pumped from the well; 6 and 7 • no new natural gas-fired power plants or pipelines are constructed in North Carolina, 8 and all existing gas plants and pipelines are phased out expeditiously and replaced with 9 clean, renewable energy. 10 11 A motion was made by Commissioner Marcoplos, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to 12 adopt the resolution. 13 14 Commissioner Jacobs said the hot pink sheet at the Commissioners' places is a 2012 15 Board of County Commissioners' resolution opposing Shale Gas development. 16 Commissioner McKee said he does not dispute any of the "whereas" statements, and he 17 has extreme concerns about the fracking industry. He said he will be prevented from voting for 18 this due to the "be it resolved" statement, where it reads "by December 31, 2018 no natural gas 19 originating from fracking operations is used in or transported through North Carolina." He said 20 there is no way to differentiate what gas is in the pipelines, and so he sees this as 21 unenforceable. 22 Commissioner McKee said he also has concerns with "by December 31, 2022 no other 23 natural gas is used in or transported through North Carolina unless it can be verified that the 24 methane emissions associated with its production, transportation, and end use are at most 25 0.5% of gas pumped from the well," as he does not know what "the well" means, or how the 26 content of the gas can be differentiated. 27 Commissioner McKee said the final point, which states, "no new natural gas-fired power 28 plants or pipelines are constructed in North Carolina, and all existing gas plants and pipelines 29 are phased out expeditiously and replaced with clean, renewable energy" is also troublesome 30 for the same reasons. He agrees that renewable energy is the only long-term solution, but he 31 does not believe that it is possible or appropriate to set a deadline of 2018 or 2022, as it is 32 unrealistic. He said if the gas lines are shut down in the short term, the impact will fall heaviest 33 on those least able to afford it, as it must be replaced either by coal or some other more 34 expensive option. 35 Commissioner McKee asked if the motion maker and seconder would be willing to 36 replace the "be it resolved" section with the language from the 2012 resolution, which he read: 37 "NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Orange County Board of Commissioners 38 does hereby urge the North Carolina General Assembly to maintain existing laws and 39 regulations that prevent the use of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing in the State and to 40 take no action that would weaken these laws and regulations before it is fully demonstrated that 41 North Carolina public health, waters, land, air, economy, and quality of life can be protected 42 from impacts that may occur by allowing the development of shale gas resources in the state." 43 He proposed this change as a friendly amendment. 44 Commissioner Marcoplos said he could not accept this. 45 Commissioner Price said she has concern with mentioning Duke Energy by name. She 46 proposed a friendly amendment to list all gas companies, or none at all. 47 Commissioner Marcoplos said he would not accept that friendly amendment either, 48 because Duke Energy is the largest utility in North Carolina, and one of the largest in the world, 49 and great strides can be made on climate change if Duke Energy can accept a renewable 50 energy future.