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Orange County Commission for the Environment <br />CFE Committee Priorities <br />(updated April 2017) <br />Air and Energy Resources Committee <br />(May Becker, Bill Newby, Matt Crook, Alan Parry, Alex Nicodem) <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, Marshall Gray) <br />1. 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 />2. Surface and Ground Water Quality and Quantity — Increase the collection of data for surface <br />and ground water quality and quantity; increase public education so it might lead to more <br />funding for data collection. <br />3. 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. <br />Land Resources Committee <br />(Jeanette O'Connor, Lydia Wegman, Lynne Gronback, ) <br />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 />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 />