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Clean Air <br /> Carolina <br /> lfts�, ,aft <br /> December 23,2020 <br /> Ms.Renee Price <br /> Chair,Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> Submitted via email:ocbocc@orangecountvnc.Qov;rpricePorangecountvnc.gov <br /> Dear Chairwoman Price: <br /> Several members of Clean Air Carolina have expressed concern about a rezoning request for 104 acres of <br /> land to be redesignated from "Office/Research and Manufacturing" to a "Master Plan Development <br /> Conditional Zoning"to accommodate a Buc-ee's gas station and convenience store.According to the News <br /> & Observer, this facility will be a 64,OOOsq ft, 60 dual sided (120 handles) pump gas station.We have one <br /> question for the county;is this project really necessary? <br /> Governor Cooper's executive order 80, "North Carolina's Commitment to Address Climate Change and <br /> Transition to a Clean Energy Economy"calls on our state to begin transitioning away from greenhouse gas <br /> sources. One of the goals set under this order is to increase zero emission vehicles.Increasing the number of <br /> gas stations, let alone a mega-gas-station like this one,is not an incentive to reach EO 80's goals.In fact,it is <br /> the exact opposite. <br /> In addition to the carbon emitted from the vehicles they serve,gas stations are large emitters of Volatile <br /> Organic Compounds, and with a station such as this one, we would have serious concerns about the <br /> potential for increased emissions to contribute negatively to the area's ambient air quality. <br /> We appreciate the potential for economic development and job creation that this project may bring. <br /> However, this project's environmental impacts are significant and the mitigation efforts the company has <br /> proposed do not adequately show that they will pay for the costs to human health and further erosion of our <br /> state's natural resources. <br /> We urge the Commission to deny this application for rezoning. <br /> Thank you for your consideration of this important issue.Please do not hesitate to contact me if I may be of <br /> any assistance. <br /> Sincerely, <br /> Joel Porter <br /> Policy Manager <br /> Clean Air Carolina m -• Box 5311 w Charlotte, NC 28299 m 704-307-9528 <br /> . . <br />