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115 <br /> The North Carolina Clean Energy Plan10 sets a net zero GHG emissions target for 2050 <br /> and established goals to support this target by fostering long-term energy affordability <br /> and accelerating clean energy innovation, development, and deployment to better <br /> serve business and residential communities. To support these goals, the plan states a <br /> commitment to develop carbon reduction policies, tools to support the policies, and to <br /> modernize the grid in support of clean energy resource adoption. <br /> The Cities Initiative," led by the Environmental Defense Fund, is a collaborative effort <br /> among North Carolina local governments to reduce GHG emissions, evaluate barriers, <br /> understand business needs, and pursue partnership opportunities. During Phase 1, <br /> the Initiative identified 12 core goals around clean energy, transportation, and the built <br /> environment on which the collaborative will focus in the coming months. A large part of <br /> the process is to uncover funding approaches to support these goals. Phase 2 will unfold <br /> in 2024. During this phase, specific strategies and actions will establish a roadmap for <br /> implementation. <br /> Triangle Clean Cities Coalition12 leverages resources from the Department of Energy's <br /> Vehicle Technology office to promote alternative fuels and electric vehicle adoption. <br /> The coalition provides collaboration, multi-jurisdiction grant opportunities, workshop <br /> education and technical assistance to municipalities who are committed to finding <br /> sustainable transportation solutions. <br /> Duke Energy has committed to a 50% reduction in emissions by 2030 and net zero <br /> emissions by 2050.13 Piedmont Electric Cooperative, another County supplier, also <br /> commits to reducing energy by 50%by 2030, and to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.14 <br /> REGIONAL GUIDANCE <br /> The Triangle Climate Resilience Partnership15 is a cooperative partnership among the <br /> Towns of Cary and Chapel Hill, the Cities of Durham and Raleigh, and the Counties of <br /> Durham and Orange.The Steering Committee iscomposed of the partners'Sustainability <br /> Managers, Sustainability Directors, and Resilience Officers. This partnership—in <br /> conjunction with UNC Asheville's National Environmental Modeling and Analysis Center <br /> and the Triangle J Council of Governments—performed a quantified assessment to <br /> help regional decision makers understand which assets are most vulnerable to specific <br /> threats and provide guidance on potential solutions. <br /> ° "Clean Energy Plan.North Carolina Environmental Quality."Clean Energy Plan I NC DEQ. <br /> 11 https://www.deq.nc.gov/energy-climate/climate-change/mitigation/cities-initiative <br /> 12 https://cleancities.energy.gov/coalitions/triangle <br /> 13 https://www.duke-energy.com/business/products/renewables/sustainability/ <br /> sustainability-goals#:-:text=We've%20already%20seen%20002,your%20higher%20carbon%20 <br /> energy%20usage. <br /> 14 https://pemc.coop/smart_energy/energy-portfolio/#:-:text=Piedmont%20EIectric%2Opledges%20 <br /> to%20reduce,providers%20to%20meet%20these%20goals. <br /> 15 https://www.tjcog.org/focus-areas-environment-resilience-climate-and-energy/ <br /> triangle-regional-resilience-partnership <br /> 3 ORANGE COUNTY, NC • APPENDICES <br />