Orange County NC Website
<br />Orange County Commission for the Environment <br /> <br />CFE Committee Priorities <br />(updated April 2017) <br /> <br />Air and Energy Resources Committee <br />(Bill Newby, Matt Crook, Alan Parry, Kim Piracci, Bill Ward) <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 /> <br />2. Green Building – Help the County develop an incentive program for green construction. <br /> <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 /> <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 /> <br /> <br />Water Resources Committee <br />(Bill Kaiser, Marshall Gray, Will Stanley) <br /> <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 /> <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 /> <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 /> <br />Land Resources Committee <br />(Lynne Gronback, Bradley Saul) <br /> <br />1. 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 /> <br />2. 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 /> <br />