Agenda - 10-03-2017 - 8-a - Minutes

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9 1 Brennan Bouma said this resolution proposes for the County and State to move to a 2 100% clean energy by 2050. He said it was brought to the County by residents in the spring, 3 went to the Commission for the Environment, and now to the Board of County Commissioners. 4 He said the original item was drafted by the North Carolina Climate Solutions Association and 5 edited by the Commission for the Environment to include Orange County. 6 7 PUBLIC COMMENT: 8 Kathy Kaufman said she lives in Carrboro and also worked at the EPA, and she wanted 9 to support this wholeheartedly, but noted that this is only a first step in this process. She said 10 this community contains a great deal of knowledge and expertise about energy efficiency. She 11 said change always starts from the bottom up, and the actions of local communities are 12 extremely important. She said current weather patterns and hurricanes are a prime example of 13 the effects of climate change. 14 Kim Piracci said she wanted to add to Ms. Kaufman's comments, noting all of the fires 15 currently burning in the west. She said climate change is here. She said the move to clean 16 technology is going to happen, because clean technology is going to be cheaper than fossil 17 fuels. She reviewed the different cities that have already adopted this resolution. She 18 encouraged the BOCC to adopt this resolution. 19 Bill Ward said this issue is urgent. He said they need to focus on 2030, instead of 2050. 20 He said utilities are regulated by the State, and not by the County, and the State is more 21 supportive of the utilities than communities. He encouraged the County to continue to pursue 22 renewable energy for County properties, even if the cost is a bit more at this time. He asked 23 the County to be a leader. 24 Bill Black said everything he wanted to say has already been addressed, but he said this 25 is an important issue for all Orange County residents. 26 Commissioner McKee said he will support this resolution, and it is something to work 27 toward. He said transitioning from a fossil fuel-based economy to a 100% clean renewable 28 energy for all energy sectors-based economy by January 1, 2050 would impact a large number 29 of jobs. He asked if the intent is to eliminate all fossil fuel use. 30 Brennan Bouma said it is his understanding that the goal is not to eliminate all uses of 31 fossil fuels, but rather all uses of fossil fuels tied to energy generation. 32 Chair McKee said the resolution says "all uses," and he wants to know how to address 33 the needs of the millions of people who will lose their jobs as a result. 34 Kim Pirracci said there are many more jobs in clean energy than fossil fuel jobs, and she 35 said individuals may not be able to transition, but there are resources available to retrain fossil 36 fuel workers. 37 Bill Ward said North Carolina State University is putting forth great effort to train people, 38 and offer courses in this new technology. 39 Kim Pirracci said the goal is for the County to be completely off of fossil fuels by 2050, 40 including vehicles. She said she would like to speak about the Jacobson plan, which has five 41 parts to it. She said every place in the world should be able to be free of fossil fuels by 2050, 42 and this plan is outlined for every state and 139 countries. She said North Carolina has access 43 to wind and solar power. 44 Commissioner Marcoplos said his son and nephew went to Appalachian State University 45 because it is a national leader in training and education about alternative energies. He said 46 there are local solar companies that are hiring these graduates, and the market will only 47 increase. 48 Kathy Kaufman said coal is on the decline and will not return, due to cost and impact on 49 the environment. She said natural gas employment is the bigger issue. She said the number