CFE agenda 030915 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Attachment 4 CFE Committee Priorities (as of February 2015) Air and Energy Resources Committee (May Becker, Tom Eisenhart, David Neal, Bill Newby, Gary Saunders, Jan Sassaman) 1. GHG Emissions Inventory - Update the County 2005 greenhouse gas emissions inventory. (First determine whether it will be feasible & worthwhile to perform a complete update.) 2. Green Building — Help County implement a rebate on permit fees for green construction. 3. Climate Change - Educate county residents about climate change, alternative energy sources and efficiency, and steps to reduce their (and the county's) carbon footprint. 4. Energy Efficiency - Partner with Piedmont Electric Membership Corp. to take advantage of USDA program for low- interest loans for energy efficient upgrades for its members /owners. 5. RENEW Group — Proceed with the creation of the planned Renewable Energy and Efficiency Work Group (utilizing the current CFE / Air & Energy Committee structure). Water Resources Committee (Peter Cada, Donna Lee Jones, Rebecca Ray, Sheila Thomas- Ambat) Invasive Species — Educate the public about invasive species of concern, their extents/ locations, and what steps can be taken to address them. 2. Surface and Ground Water Quality - Increase the collection of data for surface and ground water quality; increase public education so it might lead to more funding for data collection. 3. Water Supply - Increase public education of our water supply, and what steps can be taken to improve /maintain quality and quantity of water supplies into the future. Land Resources Committee (Loren Hintz, Jeanette O'Connor, Lydia Wegman, David Welch) 1. Comprehensive Conservation Plan - Initiate development of a comprehensive conservation plan for Orange County, to be used by Lands Legacy program and others to protect natural areas and wildlife habitat. Consider ways to ensure conservation land is distributed equitably throughout the county so that everyone has reasonable access to enjoy these areas. 2. Native Plant Habitats - Renew collaboration with NC Botanical Garden and others to identify significant roadside habitat for native plants; then ask NCDOT and other utilities to eliminate the use of herbicides to manage vegetation in those special roadside habitats. Native Landscaping - Educate the public (homeowners /businesses) on reasons to choosing a diversity of regionally native species for landscaping and other ways to promote biodiversity in the home landscape. 4. 2016 Bond Package - Advocate for including land conservation (i.e., support for Lands Legacy program) as part of the planned bond package for 2016; take the lead in educating the public about why protected space and natural areas are important for Orange County.