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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-12-2007-4kkORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: June 12, 2007 Action Agenda Item No. ~{- -~ SUBJECT: Resolution in Support of the State Energy Office DEPARTMENT: BOCC PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Resolution Donna Baker, Clerk to the Chatham County Resolution Orange County Board of Commissioners (919) 245-2130 PURPOSE: To consider a resolution requesting support for the State Energy Office. BACKGROUND: MISSION The State Energy Office of the NC Department of Administration strives for a sustainable energy future for North Carolina by promoting: • energy efficiency • renewable energy • alternative fuels • energy emergency response HISTORY IN BRIEF The State Energy Office was created in 1973 in response to the Arab Oil Embargo to serve as an energy emergency response agency, helping to allocate fuels and assist citizens with the issues created by reduced petroleum supplies. The Office has evolved since that time to become North Carolina's lead agency for energy programs, services and information for consumers, businesses, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, schools and policy makers. NOTABLE PROGRAMS State Agencies: The Utility Savings Initiative is alead-by-example energy efficiency program to save 20% on energy costs and consumption in all state agencies and public universities in five years. Since its inception in 2002, it has saved the State and its taxpayers more than $66 million in avoided utility costs. The program is being expanded now to community colleges, K- 12 schools, and local governments. Residential: The Upgrade and Save Program helps homeowners of new manufactured homes in 50 North Carolina counties upgrade standard furnaces to more energy efficient heat pumps, saving homeowners up to $700 in heating costs each winter. Since the program's inception in 2003, homeowners have saved a cumulative total of $437,240. Industrial: The Energy Management Program since 1992 has recommended more than $354 million in energy saving improvements to industrial energy consumers, with more than $152 million in implemented savings. Alternative Fuels: The State Energy Office is providing a portion of the start-up funds for North Carolina's first four biodiesel production plants. Biodiesel is a homegrown, renewable fuel made from plant and animal products that burns cleaner than petroleum. By the end of 2007, North Carolina biodiesel producers are on target to make more than 3 million gallons of alternative fuel for North Carolina drivers. When they reach full capacity within the next few years, that are projected to create around 9 million gallons annually. Renewables: The NC GreenPower Program is funded by the State Energy Office to increase the amount of alternative energy generation from renewable resources such as solar, wind, hydro and biomass. This energy is sold by independent producers to electricity companies for resale to consumers. The average equivalent energy produced by the program is 20,234,400 kWh. Policy: The State Energy Office staffs North Carolina's Energy Policy Council, an 18-member board that is charged with advising and making recommendations on energy policy to the Governor and the General Assembly in addition to serving as the central energy policy planning body of the state. The Council prepares the biennial State Energy Plan, with 92 recommendations that are vital in formulating and implementing energy policies and programs in North Carolina. Education: The annual Sustainable Energy Conference hosted by the State Energy Office brings together the state's key stakeholders and decision makers for discussion on North Carolina's top energy issues. More than 600 people attended the 2007 conference, along with 45 exhibitors and 27 sponsoring organizations. The State Energy Office Information and Referral Center provides answers and technical assistance to an average of 2,500 citizens and businesses each year. FUNDING The State Energy Office has been funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and federal funds known as Petroleum Violation Escrow funds, which were collected from major petroleum producers as a settlement for overcharges in the 1970s. The U.S. Department of Energy funding is fluctuating, and the Petroleum Violation Escrow Funds will be exhausted, for the most part, by the end of 2007. The State Energy Office must turn to State appropriations in 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 to continue its programs. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with approval of the resolution. However, the potential closure of the State Energy Office will likely have profound impacts on energy innovation and costs for the future of all of North Carolina RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the attached resolution requesting support for the State Energy Office and authorize the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board of Commissioners. ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Resolution in Support of the State Energy Office Whereas, the State Energy Office and Director Larry Shirley have led and coordinated the State of North Carolina's efforts to advance energy efficiency, renewable energy, and use of alternative fuels with very commendable effectiveness; and Whereas, the university energy centers including the Solar Center at NC State, and the programs at A&T and Appalachian State, funded through the State Energy Office, have provided much of the intellectual leadership and training in energy efficiency and renewable energy in this state; and Whereas, these efforts in the fiscal year 2005-2006 resulted in the savings of over $91 million at a cost of less that $6 million; and Whereas, due to the global warming crisis, the world community, as well as our state and county must aggressively expand the kinds of initiatives in which the State Energy Office has been a leader; and Whereas, Orange County is rapidly advancing in our commitment to energy efficiency and renewable energy and looks forward to an expanding collaborative relationship with the State Energy Office; and Whereas, alarmingly, the State Senate has passed a version of the state budget which puts an end to the State Energy Office and to funding for the university energy centers; Now Therefore be it resolved that the Orange County Board of Commissioners expresses its full support for the continuation and full funding of the State Energy Office and calls on Orange County's legislative delegation to do all it can to save the State Energy Office in the deliberations of the budget conference committee. This the 12t" day of June 2007. Moses Carey, Jr., Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners ~'i~~ ~ COUNTYCOMMISSIONERS ~ COUNTYMANAGER Carl E. Thompson, Chairman Charlie Horne CHATHAM CoLIlV'TY George Lucier, !/ice Chairman NORTH CAROLINA Patrick Barnes ~~ .~„~ sa~~ Mike Cross ~°^~..,,., Tom Vanderbeck Established 1771 P. 0. Box 1809, PFttsboro, NC 27312-1809 • Phone: (919) 542,8200 • Fax: (919) 542-8272 Resolution in Support of the State Energy Office WHEREAS, the State Energy Office and its Director Larry Shirley have led and coordinated the state's efforts to advance energy efficiency, renewable energy, and use of alternative fuels with very commendable effectiveness, and WHEREAS, these efforts in the fiscal year 2005-2006 have resulted in the savings of over $91 million at a cost of less that $6 million, and WHEREAS, due to the global warming crisis, the world community, as well as our state and county must aggressively expand the kinds of initiatives in which the State Energy Office has been a leader, and WHEREAS, Chatham County is rapidly advancing in the production if biofuels, green building, energy efficient transportation, and job training for the green jobs of the future and looks forward to a expanding collaborative relationship with the State Energy Office, and WHEREAS, it is critical for the state of North Carolina to be a leader in energy conservation and alternative fuels; and WHEREAS, alarmingly, the State Senate has :passed a version of the state budget which puts an end to the State Energy Office. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Chatham County Board of Commissioners expresses its full support for the continuation and full funding of the State Energy Office and calls on its State Representative, Speaker Joe Hackney, and its State Senator, Bob Atwater, to do all they can to save the State Energy Office in the deliberations of the budget conference committee. Carl Thompson, Ch irman George Lucier, Vice Chairman Tom Vanderbeck, Commissioner Patrick Barnes, Comm/is~sioner Mike Cross, Commissioner (AST T: `, Sandra B. Sublett, CMC, Clerk to the Board Adopted this, the 6th day of June, 2007. Chatharn County Board of Commissioners