Agenda - 09-05-2023; 7-a - Draft Orange County Climate Action Plan and Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report

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SUMMARY PURPOSE Orange County's 2023 CAP is meant to serve as a guiding FOUNDATIONAL: TOP 10 THINGS document towards GHG reductions, both in County operations THE COUNTY SHOULD DO and community-wide. It is designed as a comprehensive strategy TARGET BASELINE to reduce emissions in a manner consistent with state guidelines 1.Decrease vehicle est.annual reduction and regulations, and to identify cost-effective opportunities miles traveled(VMT) of 1.3 million to existing and future residents, businesses, and development 30%from a 2019 miles using US baseline Community Protocol projects for a more sustainable community. At the same time,the by 2050 CAP provides a framework for environmental leadership and an 2.Increase community educational resource to the community. EV adoption to 50% Currently 12% all by 2035 and 100% vehicles in Orange ric The CAP is intentionally a living document that can be revised by 2050using a (12%ECountadoptsre n) as needed with clear and transparent metrics by which progress 2023 baseline (12%EV adoption) can be both assessed and measured. Although the County will 3.Achieve 50% be flexible, it will remain steadfast to the objectives ahead. emission reduction Scope 1 and 2 There are 78 strategies with 164 associated actions outlined target of all Scope 1 emissions have within the CAP. Certain commitments within the CAP have risen and 2 emissions by dropped by 42.4% 2030 and 100%by between 2005 to the top as the most impactful climate action targets for both 2050 using a 2005 and 2019 community and County operations that should be prioritized baseline above the rest. They are listed as the "Top 10 Things the County 4.Achieve 100% of Should Do". renewable electricity Currently all elecctricityty is by 2050 in municipal rom Theprojectteamanalyzedthelongterm GHG emissions reduction operation and renews les potential of strategies 1-7 and adjusted the percentages i e. community-wide wide renewable sources p 9 1 p 9 (�. y- 50% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030) to ensure that the 5.Increase community Current solar County could reach net zero by 2050 if they achieve these 7 wide solar capacity capacity within targets. Please refer to Figure A. Our methodology included by 20%by 2035 Orange County running the County's 2019 GHG emissions inventory through the to 32.32 MW is 26.93 MW2 Local Governments for Sustainability's model, ICLEI ClearPath, 6.Complete an electrification study and and then forecast those emissions out to 2050 using escalation establish a long-term implementation plan factors for projected population growth, national transportation (Phase 1 and Phase 2)for both municipal emission requirements, and the utility commitments towards and community infrastructure by 2025 net zero carbon emissions. The ICLEI Clearpath model bases 7•Expand County funding to include climate expenditures and additional full time the emission reductions on the unique usage data and emission sustainability staff factors specific to Orange County. The model has the capability 8.Integrate sustainability as a framework of running different emission reduction scenarios based on the within the overall County's planning percentage of expected emissions reduced. process 9.Identify and prioritize actions targeted to https://www.duke-energy.com/Home/Products/Renewable-Advantage/ vulnerable populations within the County Prod uct-Content-Label?jur=NC01#:-:text=For%20compari son%2C%20 the%20current%20average,%5BDuke%20Energy%202021%20data%5D. 10.Be prepared for climate change 2 https://energync.org/maps/ 12 2023 CLIMATE ACTION PLAN ORANGE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA