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91 <br /> Introductory Summary <br /> This inventory was performed using the U.S. Community Protocol Version 1.2, as <br /> developed by ICLEI and updated for this specific GHG accounting exercise in July 2019. <br /> Inventory emissions were calculated using best practices and were based on 2019 data <br /> gathered from the County. These "usage" data were assigned an appropriate emission <br /> factor to arrive at a figure for emissions emitted. The calculations took place within the <br /> ICLEI ClearPath tool. ClearPath assists in GHG accounting and management at the <br /> community and municipal levels. Emission factors were compiled from 2019 data and <br /> information from the federal Environmental Protection Agency GHG Emission Factors <br /> Hub 3 utilized in the ICLEI ClearPath tool. <br /> As a result, this report compiles data from the County and models GHGs to provide an <br /> accurate depiction of the County's real-world emissions. It also identifies key areas to <br /> focus on for strategy development and program creation to reduce emissions in the <br /> County. Finally, it serves as an update to the County's existing GHG inventories completed <br /> in 2005 and 2017.4 <br /> Previous Inventories and Climate Resolutions <br /> Orange County has been actively striving to reduce carbon emissions. The County's first <br /> GHG inventory was conducted in 20055 and the second in 2017. This inventory builds <br /> upon previous inventories and provides valuable data on how the County is progressing <br /> towards reducing carbon emissions. <br /> On June 6, 2017, Orange County Board of County Commissioners adopted a resolution <br /> to uphold the Paris Climate Agreement, committing to reduce GHG emissions between <br /> 26 and 28 percent by 2025 from 2005 levels and on September 5, 2017,the Board made <br /> an additional commitment to transition to a 100% renewable energy-oriented economy <br /> by 2050. These resolutions and GHG inventories demonstrate the County's leadership <br /> towards climate action and creating informed decisions based on data contained in <br /> GHG inventories. <br /> Not all sectors were consistently measured across the 2005, 2017, and the current 2019 <br /> inventory; however, comparisons can be made in several sectors such as residential, <br /> commercial, and industrial energy, transportation, and solid waste. As shown in figure <br /> 3, these sectors have experienced significant emission reductions since 2005. In 2005, <br /> Orange County was responsible for emissions amounting to 2.8 million tons of carbon <br /> dioxide equivalent. In 2017 emissions in Orange County had fallen to 1.78 million tons of <br /> CO2e. By 2019, emissions fell further, to 1.63 million tons of CO2e, a decrease of 40.71% <br /> between 2005 and 2019. <br /> 3 https://www.epa.gov/climateleadership/ghg-emission-factors-hub <br /> 4 https://www.orangecountync.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10049/ <br /> Orange-County-Greenhouse-Gas-Inventory-2017 <br /> 5 https://www.orangecountync.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2002/ <br /> Greenhouse-Gas-Emissions-Inventory-and-Forecast-PDF <br /> 3 ORANGE COUNTY, NC • APPENDICES <br />