2025-096-E-County Mgr-Solar Equity-Solar on St Joseph CME Church

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5. Please select the jurisdiction(s) where your project is focused and briefly state how your project aligns with the relevant Climate Action Plans (2-4 sentences): Please name the action items from each relevant plan that best align with your proposed project. Carrboro: https://townofcarrboro.org /928/Community-Climate-Action-Plan Chapel Hill: https://www.sustainchapelhill.org /featured/2020/2/18/climate-action- and-response-plan Orange County: https://www.orangecountync.gov/3096/Climate-Action-Plan This proposed project aligns with the above plan(s) in the following ways: Chapel Hill’s climate action plan revolves around environmental justice and an equitable energy transition. As recently as 2021, Chapel Hill launched a Climate Action and Response Plan to engage both climate progress and the advancement of racial equity. This plan’s bilateral approach is critical given climate change’s disproportionate effect on those who are less fortunate. Chapel Hill’s Top 5 Action Categories are Green the Grid, Sustainable Transportation, Sustainable Development, Green Building Retrofits, and Green Infrastructure Resiliency. The St. Joseph's CME Church solar project falls under “Green the Grid”. As a part of this initiative, the Town is looking to stimulate advocacy and large/small scale renewable energy projects with the ultimate goal of net zero emissions from utilities by 2050. The project at hand falls under small scale renewable energy projects. The St. Joseph's CME Church solar project - as a pillar of the community - has the ability to propagate solar adoption among LMI neighborhoods in the area. The installation of rooftop solar will decrease the need to purchase energy from the local utility, Duke Energy, who produces the majority of its electrons with natural gas. The 23.4kW system will reduce the Church’s carbon footprint by 30%, bringing Chapel Hill closer to realizing its long term goals. The Church will approach 50% net zero with the installation of solar. With another energy efficiency project or the replacement of its HVAC system, it may cross the 50% net zero threshold. This is important for the Town of Chapel Hill as the climate plan calls for 5% of commercial to be 50% net zero by 2030. The proposed project also plays an important role under Mitigation and Resilience: Supporting environmental and climate education. While SolarEquity ’s primary mission is to bring solar energy to affordable housing communities, the organization also dedicates time and resources to educating stakeholders and partners on the importance of solar energy. SolarEquity proposed the project during an educational town hall style meeting with the church leaders to ensure transparency and collaboration with the community. During the meeting information was shared through a technical assistance packet, acting as an accessible education tool on energy and solar. Page 9 of 28 Docusign Envelope ID: 257985C7-FC41-4937-8E64-B610C38DBA58