Agenda 05-24-22; 8-e - Community Climate Action Grant (CCAG) FY 2021-22 Project Approval for Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools “Creating a Solar Future for CHCCS” Application

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2 selecting projects to receive funding was conducted through a formal Community Climate Action Grant (CCAG) program. For this grant cycle, the BOCC reserved half of the total funding for the grant program ($268,332.50) to be awarded to projects submitted by either of Orange County's two public school districts. The remaining half ($268,332.50) was to be made available to all other eligible general applicants. Only one project totaling $68,616 was submitted from either school district, and no funding was recommended for approval. In light of the Board's interest in supporting school climate action projects and the special challenges facing schools as they operate during a pandemic, the current grant deadline for school projects was extended through the end of November 2021. County staff reached back out to the schools to offer direct assistance in generating project proposals for this extended FY2021-22 round of funding as well as the FY2022-23 round of funding set to open later this year. The additional time gave CHCCS an opportunity to create a proposal for a new and different project — "Creating a Solar Future for CHCCS". Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools submitted the "Creating a Solar Future for CHCCS" application for $250,000. A summary of the application is provided in Attachment 1. The Commission for the Environment reviewed the application at its January 10, 2022 meeting and provided a memo (Attachment 2) outlining its recommendations. The Human Relations Commission reviewed the application at its February 22, 2022 meeting. Additional demographic data and more detailed responses to some of the social justice and racial equity questions were requested and subsequently provided by CHCCS. The Human Relations Commission further reviewed the materials submitted at its March 22, 2022 meeting and provided a score and comment on the social justice and racial equity component of the application (Attachment 2). CHCCS is motivated to move quickly on solar installation to take advantage of incentives through Duke Energy schedule to expire the end of 2022. A unique opportunity exists to explore a joint request for proposals (RFP) with Orange County Schools to combine the previous award of $150,000 from the FY 2019-20 grant cycle that was awarded to both Orange County Schools and Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools for solar, thereby increasing the solar purchasing capacity and coordination. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The Climate Action Tax Grant program received $536,665 in funds in FY 2021-22, and the Board of Commissioners has already approved six impactful projects totaling $268,332.50. The remaining $268,332.50 is recommended to fund the "Creating a Solar Future for CHCCS" project totaling $250,000. SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goals are applicable to this item: • GOAL: ENSURE ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY The creation and preservation of infrastructure, policies, programs and funding necessary for residents to provide shelter, food, clothing and medical care for themselves and their dependents. Social Justice and Racial Equity is the most heavily-weighted factor in scoring projects proposed through this grant program, ensuring that the equitable distribution of funds and the repair of environmental inequities are a central element of each funded project. Local investments in