Agenda 11-02-23; 6-a - Orange County Climate Action Plan and Greenhouse Gas Inventory

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APPENDIX C STAKEHOLDER REPORT Resource Conservation •Want to talk to Habitat about expanding reusable items networks so more can be reused in County •We should focus not just on where things go after purchase, but looking more upstream (ex.: using durables and reusable items). For example we could work with restaurants to build reuse program; identify partners/vendors, maybe have incentive program led by County • Priority is on collaborating with the community; leverage County education programs/resources •A curbside composting program is effective and becoming a standard practice, but requires education to emphasize its importance, and it can be replicated in OC. • Melissa is the chair of the local Sierra Club and is willing to act as a conduit and suggests the Sierra Club could have a role in developing and implementing the CAP.She mentioned creating a train-the-trainer model. Need to follow up with her. She would be open to the idea of reposting social media posts or leveraging their newsletter,to help with outreach. Built Environment • IRA (Inflation Reduction Act) could be a significant resource for non-profits, local governments, and businesses, but the summary is too long and requires someone to coordinate and educate groups on how to tap into it effectively. • County to develop a one-stop-shop type of website to educate on CAP and sustainability practices. • Advocate for low-income individuals regarding IRA funding, which flows through states, and suggests using state representatives or emailing the governor's office to ensure that the state does not drop the ball. • Natural gas is one of the biggest issues, and proactive County efforts are needed to help transition from gas to electric, which may require intervention and support in funding, resources, and branding. Orange County home preservation coalition could be a valuable partner to help low-income people navigate the transition. • Interest in Solarize the Triangle, but funding is currently a barrier. Need to have templates to secure funding and a 30% credit from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to expedite the request, which could be a significant incentive for developers. •The transition to EVs is slow and needs more focus on multi-unit dwellings and minimizing costs, along with finding ways to make charging more accessible • Exploring micro-mobility options like e-bikes and infrastructure incentives. • Implementing a policy/requirement for all-electric new construction may face political challenges • Need to make sure no disincentives for EV conversion, e,g. in the form of increased registration fees 7 ORANGE COUNTY, NC • APPENDICES