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7 <br /> WHEREAS, reducing methane emissions can be achieved quickly and cost-effectively while <br /> creating thousands of jobs;11 and <br /> WHEREAS, immediately reducing methane emissions from the US natural gas industry can <br /> slow global warming enough to allow time to replace fossil fuels with cheaper clean energy <br /> such as solar, wind and storage technologies;12 and, <br /> NOW THEREFORE be it resolved that North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper shall use his <br /> constitutionally-granted executive authority to ensure that: <br /> • by December 31, 2018 no natural gas originating from fracking operations is used in or <br /> transported through North Carolina; <br /> • by December 31, 2022 no other natural gas is used in or transported through North <br /> Carolina unless it can be verified that the methane emissions associated with its <br /> production, transportation, and end use are at most 0.5% of gas pumped from the well; <br /> and <br /> • no new natural gas-fired power plants or pipelines are constructed in North Carolina, <br /> and all existing gas plants and pipelines are phased out expeditiously and replaced <br /> with clean, renewable energy. <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Marcoplos, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs <br /> to adopt the resolution. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said the hot pink sheet at the Commissioners' places is a 2012 <br /> Board of County Commissioners' resolution opposing Shale Gas development. <br /> Commissioner McKee said he does not dispute any of the "whereas" statements, and <br /> he has extreme concerns about the fracking industry. He said he will be prevented from voting <br /> for this due to the "be it resolved" statement, where it reads "by December 31, 2018 no natural <br /> gas originating from fracking operations is used in or transported through North Carolina." He <br /> said there is no way to differentiate what gas is in the pipelines, and so he sees this as <br /> unenforceable. <br /> Commissioner McKee said he also has concerns with "by December 31, 2022 no other <br /> natural gas is used in or transported through North Carolina unless it can be verified that the <br /> methane emissions associated with its production, transportation, and end use are at most <br /> 0.5% of gas pumped from the well," as he does not know what "the well" means, or how the <br /> content of the gas can be differentiated. <br /> Commissioner McKee said the final point, which states, "no new natural gas-fired power <br /> plants or pipelines are constructed in North Carolina, and all existing gas plants and pipelines <br /> are phased out expeditiously and replaced with clean, renewable energy" is also troublesome <br /> for the same reasons. He agrees that renewable energy is the only long-term solution, but he <br /> does not believe that it is possible or appropriate to set a deadline of 2018 or 2022, as it is <br /> unrealistic. He said if the gas lines are shut down in the short term, the impact will fall heaviest <br /> on those least able to afford it, as it must be replaced either by coal or some other more <br /> expensive option. <br /> Commissioner McKee asked if the motion maker and seconder would be willing to <br /> replace the "be it resolved" section with the language from the 2012 resolution, which he read: <br /> "NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> does hereby urge the North Carolina General Assembly to maintain existing laws and <br /> regulations that prevent the use of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing in the State and <br /> to take no action that would weaken these laws and regulations before it is fully demonstrated <br /> that North Carolina public health, waters, land, air, economy, and quality of life can be <br />