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