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<br /> <br />FROM: Commission for the Environment <br />SUBJECT: Monthly Meeting Summary <br />DATE: March 11, 2013 <br />LOCATION: Environment and Agricultural Center, Hillsborough <br />_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />MEMBERS PRESENT: David Neal (Chair), Jan Sassaman (Vice Chair), May Becker, Terri <br />Buckner, Peter Cada, Loren Hintz, Bill Kaiser, Tom O’Dwyer, Gary Saunders <br /> <br />MEMBERS ABSENT: Lucy Adams, David Welch, Sam Yellen <br /> <br />STAFF: Rich Shaw, Tom Davis GUESTS: Wayne Fenton, Kellem Agnew Emanuele <br />_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br /> I. Call to Order: Neal called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm. <br /> <br />II. Additions or Changes to Agenda – Added one item to the Updates and Information. <br /> <br />III. Approval of Minutes – The February 11 meeting summary was approved unanimously. <br /> <br />IV. Energy and Fuel Use at Orange County Facilities – Wayne Fenton (Assistant Director, <br />Orange Co. Asset Mgmt. Services) provided an overview of the energy, water, and fuel <br />use at Orange County buildings and facilities from 2010 to 2012. Fenton showed the <br />County’s short-term goals for reducing energy, water and fuel consumption, and <br />“scorecards” developed to gauge how well the County is meeting its goals. He noted the <br />goals were in line with State conservation objectives. Fenton mentioned some of the <br />current and planned initiatives, including the next phase of a community geothermal <br />system (Old Courthouse & Jail), digital control improvements, and solar film evaluations. <br />The CFE discussed potential ideas for involvement, including adding a public energy <br />conservation page to the Orange County website, holding an energy fair (similar to one <br />held in Hillsborough for county employees), and possibly recommending more <br />aggressive goals and objectives for public buildings/facilities. <br /> <br /> <br /> V. Proposed Renewable Energy and Efficiency Work Group – Further consideration of this <br />proposal was tabled until the Air and Energy Resources Committee had discussed. <br /> <br />VI. Committee Meetings – The CFE broke out into its standing committees (Air & Energy <br />Resources and Water & Biological Resources) to discuss ongoing business. <br /> <br />VII. Updates and Information Items – Sassaman reported that the County is considering <br />eliminating its curbside recycling program for residents in certain unincorporated <br />sections of the county. He said a new proposal would privatize rural curbside collections <br />through a franchise contract, leaving towns to pick up urban recycling. Members agreed <br />to place this matter on the April agenda. Neal asked Sassaman to prepare a draft memo <br />for CFE consideration. <br /> <br />CFE members received updates and information on the following: a) CFE recruitment <br />efforts, b) NC fracking legislation update, c) OWASA newsletter, d) UNC Sustainability <br />newsletter, e) Pete Street Home Energy-Savings Program, f) Hillsborough stormwater <br />capture/reuse project, and a new photographic exhibit at the NC Botanical Garden. <br /> <br />VIII. Adjournment – Neal adjourned the meeting at 9:40 pm. <br /> <br /> <br />Minutes by Rich Shaw, DEAPR Staff