Minutes 01-20-2026-Business Meeting

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23 Slide #8 2025 Project Highlights Drakeford Library Urban Sustainability Solutions Rooftop solar&educational signage Green infrastructure &workforce development Expanding renewable energy while creating learning Partnering with schools to manage stormwater and build opportunities career pathways r Trees for the Triangle Binkley Baptist Church Tree planting in schools Rooftop solar Increasing tree canopy and engaging students Advancing clean energy through on-site renewable generation Commissioner Bedford asked how projects are going at the schools. She said Orange County Schools are doing solar panels for powering electric school buses. She said Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools completed Northside Elementary and were working leverage. She asked what direct-pay is. She asked if that was the tax program and if it had been cut. Amy Eckberg said direct-pay is the tax program where you can get back 30% on a clean energy project. She said they are trying to see if they can leverage those funds to do another solar installation at Morris Grove Elementary. She said the one at Northside Elementary is up and running. Commissioner Bedford asked if they are student demonstration installations or if they can power a wing. Amy Eckberg said they are mainly going to power the charging stations. Commissioner Bedford said she would like to take a tour of the school. Commissioner Carter commended the applicants for their ideas. She highlighted the idea of Urban Sustainability Solutions and students getting experience in riparian buffer management. Vice-Chair Fowler said she was happy to see the ongoing interest and the diversity of the projects. Commissioner Greene said Amy Eckberg signaled how hard it was to make decisions with the projects. She said it's not a bad thing to have twice as much interest in terms of dollar amount. She appreciated how staff prioritized different projects in different ways. She said Amy Eckberg went through the process in a thoughtful way.