Agenda - 03-07-2019 6-b - Proposed Formation of a Climate Committee

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4 Attachment 2 Ad Hoc Climate Committee Report— Jan. 29, 2019 Our intention is to jump-start the process of creating a collaborative effort among the municipal governments, the school systems, UNC, and residents that will yield unprecedented progress on climate change issues. In that spirit, here is some information, questions, and suggestions that could be useful in the next phase of climate change response. Rachel's Chapel Hill & CHCCS report: Carbon Emissions: Chapel Hill's first goal for climate action was a commitment to reduce carbon emissions from operations 60% from 2005 levels by the year 2050. This was enacted in 2005, and based on our last greenhouse gas emissions report from 2015, the Town is 6.7% below 2005 levels on a per capita basis. In 2017, the Council passed a resolution<http://chapelhill.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view id=21&clip id=3181&m eta id=168458> stating that the Town will do its part to meet the Paris Agreement - a 26-28% carbon reduction from 2005 levels by 2025. Solar: While solar would likely be a component of reaching the two aforementioned goals, there are no ratified Council goals specifically for solar. We also work with the SolSmart<https://www.townofchapel h i I l.org/town-hall/departments-services/plan n ing- and-sustainability/solar> program - a federal initiative that provided technical assistance aimed at helping Chapel Hill enhance opportunities for local solar energy generation. For example, through this project we managed to reduce permitting delays for solar and have been tracking this progress as a performance metric. Our advisory board, the ESAB, is currently discussing a goal that would require rooftop solar on all new development (they are also discussing the UNC Cogen plant and an interest in accelerated movement toward lower carbon and/or renewable fuels.) Electric Vehicles: The Town does not have a formal policy or ordinance that specifies the number of required charging stations for a development. That said, staff is evaluating a petition from the Transportation and Connectivity Advisory Board that suggests that for parking lots of 50 spaces or more, at least 3% have EV charging stations and 20% be EV ready (meaning conduit and electrical paneling). The Town and County have established several publically available charging stations<https://www.townofchapelhill.org/town- hall/departments-services/planning-and-sustainability/sustainability/electric-vehicles- charging-stations>, which have been developed as demonstration projects. Also, when a development comes before Council for an up-zoning or Special Use Permit, we