HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 09-15-2015 - 4e 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: September 15, 2015
Action Agenda
Item No. 4-e
SUBJECT: Orange County Resolution of Support for Small Solar
DEPARTMENT: Asset Management Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Resolution of Support for Small Solar Brennan Bouma, 919-245-2626
PURPOSE: To adopt a resolution of support for small-scale residential solar arrays.
BACKGROUND: Orange County is a leader in North Carolina in successfully developing and
delivering alternative and more sustainable energy sources for County facilities and assets.
Several adopted County goals and policies specifically support the development of renewable
energy resources such as solar arrays, including the 2005 Environmental Responsibility Goal
and the 2030 Comprehensive Plan. Recently in May of 2015, the Orange County Board of
Commissioners showed further support of solar technologies by endorsing the development of a
pilot solar photovoltaic system within its County facilities, beginning with the Rogers Road
Community Center.
In recent years, the cost of solar installations has fallen while their popularity has increased, for
both small residential installations (5 kilowatts on average) and large-scale commercial
installations. While both small and large solar arrays provide useful amounts of renewable
electricity for Orange County residents and businesses, they create different land use impacts in
the space they occupy and their visual appearance. Reflecting this difference in impact, and in
an effort to further promote the development of small residential solar installations, Orange
County has separated small solar installations of less than 20 kilowatts from the larger
commercial installations in the permitting and review process.
Changes in procedure like this help to encourage and facilitate the adoption of small solar
installations by County residents. These efforts by County staff to facilitate adoption of this
technology should be applauded and continued.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Adoption of this resolution of support will have no financial impact.
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following two Orange County Social Justice Goals are
applicable to this agenda item:
• GOAL: ENSURE ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY
The creation and preservation of infrastructure, policies, programs and funding necessary
for residents to provide shelter, food, clothing and medical care for themselves and their
dependents.
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• GOAL: ESTABLISH SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE LAND-USE AND
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of people of all races, cultures, incomes
and educational levels with respect to the development and enforcement of
environmental laws, regulations, policies, and decisions. Fair treatment means that no
group of people should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental
consequences resulting from industrial, governmental and commercial operations or
policies.
Small scale solar installations represent infrastructure improvements that will assist residents in
reducing their long term energy costs. Working with County residents to facilitate the
development of small scale solar, in accordance with applicable land use regulations, helps to
increase access to this technology and its benefits. Maintaining the separation of small scale
solar from large scale solar in the permitting and review process helps to ensure that small scale
solar projects are reviewed fairly in proportion to their possible impacts.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board approve and authorize the
Chair to sign the attached resolution of support for small solar installations in Orange County.
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RES-2015-046
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Resolution of Support for Small Solar
Whereas, the widespread adoption of solar technology would reduce the necessity to build
additional nuclear or fossil-fuel generating plants with their attendant problems; and
Whereas, the County has endorsed the development of a pilot solar photovoltaic system
within its own County facilities; and
Whereas, the County's 2030 Comprehensive Plan establishes several goals and objectives
encouraging the development of alternative energy sources in accordance with applicable
land use regulations; and
Whereas, the price of small residential solar voltaic arrays has recently fallen and kits
containing all of the necessary electrical components have become readily available, and
Whereas, recent local efforts to promote the development of small residential solar have
been successful, including the Solarize Orange project which has resulted in new solar
installations on over 150 homes and small businesses across Orange County in 2014 and
2015; and
Whereas, the average residential solar array installed in Orange County over the past 2
years is approximately 5 kilowatts, and solar installations up to 20 kilowatts are allowed as
an accessory use for a residential property; and
Whereas, Orange County has previously adopted comprehensive land use regulations in
order to distinguish the permit submittal and review process for small residential solar
projects and large, commercial, solar utility operations in an effort to further promote the
development of small residential solar facilities; and
Whereas, the County wishes to empower the residents of Orange County to take advantage
of these recent advances in this promising renewable energy technology;
Now Therefore, we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, declare our support for
this technology and direct the County Manager and staff to encourage and facilitate its
adoption by individual residents.
This 15th day of September, 2015.
Attest:
Donna Baker, Clerk to the Board Earl McKee, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners