Orange County NC Website
CFE Committee Priorities <br />(DRAFT Revision - February 201 6) <br />Air and Energy Resources Committee <br />(May Becker, Tom Eisenhart, Bill Newby) <br />1. GHG Emissions Inventory — Consider whether it is feasible and worthwhile to conduct a <br />comprehensive update of the County 2005 greenhouse gas emissions inventory. <br />2. Green Building — Help the County develop an incentive program for green construction. <br />3. Climate Change — Educate county residents about climate change, alternative energy sources <br />and efficiency, and steps to reduce their (and County government's) carbon footprint. <br />4. Energy Efficiency — Partner with Piedmont Electric Membership Corp and /or Duke Energy <br />to take advantage of USDA program for low- interest loans for energy efficient upgrades for <br />its members /owners. <br />Water Resources Committee <br />(Peter Cada, Rebecca Ray, Sheila Thomas - Ambat, Bill Kaiser) <br />1. Stream Buffers — Conduct a literature review of the science in support of maintaining <br />vegetative buffers to protect water quality, aquatic habitat, and biodiversity. <br />2. Hydrilla Treatments — Continue to educate the public about hydrilla and other invasive species <br />of concern; continue to monitor chemical treatments to assure they are not harmful to rivers. <br />3. Surface and Ground Water Quality — Increase the collection of data for surface and ground <br />water quality; increase public education so it might lead to more funding for data collection. <br />4. Water Supply — Continue to educate county residents about our water supply and what steps <br />can be taken to improve /maintain quality and quantity of future water supplies into the future. <br />Land Resources Committee <br />(Loren Hintz, Jeanette O'Connor, Lydia Wegman, David Welch, Lynne Gronback) <br />1. Comprehensive Conservation Plan — Collaborate on the development of a comprehensive <br />conservation plan for Orange County for Legacy program and others to protect natural areas <br />and wildlife habitat. Consider ways to ensure conservation land is distributed equitably <br />throughout the county so that everyone has reasonable access to enjoy these areas. <br />2. Native Plant Habitats - Renew collaboration with NC Botanical Garden and others to identify <br />significant roadside habitat for native plants; then ask NCDOT and other utilities to eliminate <br />the use of herbicides to manage vegetation in those special roadside habitats. <br />3. Native Landscaping - Educate homeowners and businesses on reasons to choose a diversity of <br />regionally native species for landscaping and other ways to promote biodiversity. <br />4. 2016 State Bond — Educate county residents on reasons to vote in favor of the $2 billion State <br />Bond (March 15, 2016 primary elections) <br />