HomeMy WebLinkAboutCFE agenda 081417AGENDA
Orange County Commission for the Environment
August 14, 2017
7:30 p.m.
Richard Whitted Building, 300 West Tryon Street, Hillsborough
Time Item Title
7:30 I. Call to Order
7:32 II. Additions or Changes to Agenda
7:35 III. Approval of Draft Minutes — June 12, 2017
The CFE will consider approval of minutes from the last meeting. (Attachment 1)
7:40 IV. Discussion of CFE Member Recruitment
(Attachment 2)
8:00 V. 2017 DEAPR Photography Contest Results
8:15 VI. CFE Committee Meetings
Committees will meet and discuss priorities and SOE Indicators and Icons. (Attachments 3, 4, 5
and 6)
9:00 VII. Updates and Information Items
Staff and /or CFE members will provide updates on the following items:
➢ Continuing Action Items from previous CFE meetings
o SOE 2019 Planning
➢ Safe Water Editorial from The News and Observer (Attachment 7)
➢ Land Legacy Press Release (Attachment 8)
➢ Cape Fear River Assembly Event (Attachment 9)
➢ Impacts of Climate Change on Southern US (Attachment 10)
➢ City of Durham Sustainability Report (Attachment 11)
➢ Coop Ext Community Economic Profile (Attachment 12)
➢ Any other new information from CFE members and staff
9:15 IX. Adjournment
• Next Meeting; September 11, Anima/ Services
Building, 1601 Eubanks Road, Chapel Hi//
CFE Meeting Ground Rules (Adopted 9112111)
1. Keep to agenda topic under discussion
2. Share relevant information
3. One person speaks at a time after recognition by the Chair
4. Everyone is invited to participate in discussions / no one person should dominate
discussions
,. Strive to reach consensus first before voting
Activities the CFE expects to carry out in 2017:
• Continue to write news articles on environmental issues of importance to Orange
County, including climate change, energy conservation, and other important topics
• Continue to explore ways to improve the County's ability to foster local sustainable
energy production and energy efficiency strategies, including making Orange County an
even better place for appropriately -sited solar energy generation, including developing
incentives for increasing energy efficiency in new construction
• Recommend ways to reduce the County's "carbon footprint" and implement the County's
Environmental Responsibility Goal (BOCC Priority #10)
• Continue to help with public outreach and management efforts related to hydrilla in the
Eno River
• Participate in a County effort to identify and preserve important landscape corridors that
connect significant natural areas and open space (BOCC Priority #1)
• Co- sponsor the annual DEAPR photography contest (The Nature of Orange)
• Help plan for and participate in County's annual Earth Evening event
Concerns or emerging issues the CFE has identified for 2017:
• The CFE will continue to advocate for an expansion of the County's commercial food waste
pickup and composting services to reduce food waste in the solid waste stream
• The CFE remains interested in developing incentives for increasing energy efficiency in new
construction
• The CFE will continue to learn more about environmental justice matters and incorporate
relevant information and considerations in the next State of the Environment report (2020)
and its other activities
• The CFE will continue to follow the Solid Waste Advisory Group's discussions of how to
improve the handling and disposal of Orange County's solid waste, and will advocate for
better long -term solutions
• The CFE will continue to advocate for increased efforts to gather information related to water
resources in Orange County and to increase public awareness and understanding of water
supply sources, related concerns, and what steps can be undertaken to maintain or improve
the quantity and quality of Orange County water supply resources
• The CFE will continue to address, as appropriate, the critical environmental issues for Orange
County as enumerated on page 3 of the 2014 State of the Environment report, which include
potential adverse effects from a) invasive, non - native, plant and animal species; b) reductions
in State -led collection of water resources data; c) potential drilling for natural gas in the Deep
River basin; d) urban sprawl; and CFE support for e) the responsible deployment of clean and
appropriately -sited renewable energy and reductions in energy use to help fight climate
change
Draft Meeting Summary
Orange County Commission for the Environment
June 12, 2017
7:30 p.m.
Animal Services Center, 1601 Eubanks Road, Chapel Hill
Present: Lynne Gronback (Chair), Bill Newby, Marshall Gray, Sheila
Thomas- Ambat, Matt Crook, Peter Cada, Jeanette O'Connor
Absent: Alan Parry, Bill Kaiser, May Becker, Jeremy Marzuola
Staff: Tom Davis, Brennan Bouma
Call to Order - Gronback called the meeting to order at 7:30.
II. Additions or Changes to Agenda - One addition was proposed to the agenda
to include a discussion of a new resolution proposed by Commissioner
Marcoplos to ask the Governor to limit the transport of natural gas produced by
hydraulic fracturing through the state. This was added to the discussion of the
Fossil Free NC resolution.
III. Approval of Draft Minutes from May 8, 2017. Newby requested that his name
be added to the list of those in attendance. This was done and Crook made a
motion to approve the amended minutes. Second by O'Connor. Approved
unanimously.
IV. Discussion of Draft Fossil Fuel Free Resolution - At the May CFE meeting, a
draft resolution asking the BOCC to support the effort to be fossil fuel free by
2050 was presented. Edits to clarify that this resolution applied to Orange County
were supported by O'Connor and Thomas- Ambat. "Orange County" was added
as the first words in "Section 1" before "The State of North Carolina ".
Gray requested to either find support for the statement in the resolution referring
to coal power plants, or to redact the statement. Since no support of the
statement could be found in the background documents, the decision was made
to redact it.
Cada motioned to pass the resolution as amended. It was seconded by
O'Connor and brought to a vote. It was approved unanimously. Bouma stated
that he would finalize the requested edits and forward the proposed resolution to
the Board of Commissioners for their consideration.
Davis presented a draft resolution proposed by Commissioner Marcoplos to ask
the Governor to limit the transport of natural gas produced by hydraulic fracturing
through the state. Newby wondered how the transport of fracked gas through the
state could feasibly be limited. In the end, the CFE suggested no changes to the
resolution.
V. Conservation of Roadside Native Plants - Johnny Randall of the NC Botanical
Garden discussed efforts to conserve native plants along Orange County
roadsides. The BOCC approved a resolution prepared by the CFE in 2012
regarding the conservation of roadside plants. Randall reported no significant
progress with this effort since then. Currently roadsides are thought to be the
last place where native flora from this area may remain. These areas were
maintained until recently by mowing, which replicated the action of large
herbivores. Over the past 15 years or so, with the increase in spraying herbicides
to manage these areas, these rare species are disappearing.
Johnny Randall is looking for additional volunteers or ideas from the CFE to
support roadside surveys, similar to a "bio- blitz ". The identification of rare plants
would help provide support for making changes to management practices. It was
discussed that the CFE could help amplify this message and may include a
section on this in the State of the Environment report.
VI. CFE Facebook Page - Bouma provided an update on the new CFE Facebook
page. The page is now active and available to the CFE for use as an outreach
tool. Bouma had already made the first post on behalf of O'Connor to advertise a
movie on pollinators ( "Hometown Habitat ") over the Father's Day weekend. CFE
members stated that due to the small potential for accidentally posting
inappropriate content to the site, that they would be most comfortable letting staff
post to the site on their behalf.
VII. CFE Committee Meetings - Due to the lateness of the hour, Committees did not
have breakout meetings.
VIII. Updates and Information Items — information on the following items was
provided:
• Continuing Action Items from previous CFE meetings
■ SOE 2019 Planning
• Carrboro Screening of Hometown Habitat Movie
• NC Renewable Energy Tax Breaks Article
• Draft Regional Conservation Plan
IX. Adjournment — Cada motioned to adjourn, and Gray seconded. Meeting
adjourned at 9:00.
Interested in Local
Environmental Issues?
Consider Volunteering to serve on the Orange County
Commission for the Environment
• Help educate the public on environmental matters
• Recommend new county policies and initiatives
• Explore ways to reduce the County's carbon footprint
• Perform special studies on environmental issues
The Commission meets at 7:30 pm the second Monday of
each month in Chapel Hill or Hillsborough
I he Oraiinge n IIP IIP III III III f III -111--he III " III III III IIn IIP IIn'III" iiis a citizen III III 'III" III 'III"
advises,111,he Board uIII,Ilh y Coiiiniiinissioners on eiinviii Iiron iii IIn'III" III issues.,
For more info please visit:
http: / /www.ora ngecou ntync.gov /departments /dea pr/
0- �� CeeN�v
commission _for_the_environment.php I IF
Department of E —i-,,— m,
Agriculti.ue, Packs � ftecreation.
C"'
C"'
O
TMI
O
N
L-
0
U)
M
(1)
U)
m
Q
O
Q
Q
c
Q
E
c
O
L
W
Q
O
Q
cn
r
O
N
O
N
L
O
ci
Q
Q �..
Y �
v�
O
Q
CU
U
CU
O
Q
4-
O
O O
ry+
� o
Q
U U_
-0
E
Q
O Q
O
c6
U
�_0
-
O
O
U
U
N
CU
CU
> 0
a) O
�
CU
�
CU
0
0)
0)
0)
0)
0)
0)
0)
>
O
>
O
O
>
O
>
O
>
O
>
O
>
O
CU
CU
o
X
U
L
N
—
D
>O
>
—
Cn
Cn
N
7
70
O
(n
O
70
N
70
70
70
70
70
L
L
L
L
L
O
O
O
O
L
O
N
(�
LPL
LPL
LPL
LPL
PL
L
C�
C�
C�
C�
PL
L
C�
7
(V
(V
70
:
-P
C6
>
(6
~
�
i
J
Z
Q
U)
C�
^O
n
(1)
• O
C>
70
70
D
C
W
E
(6
CU
M
O
N
CU
CU
L
O
a
o
fn
O
U
U
0
>,
aOO
U
U
N
U
w
4--
U
75
O
V
N
Q
O
m
D
U)
O
o
O
X
w
U
w
0-
0 O
0-
0
O
>
O
O E
O o
CU
o)
.
to
. (D
to
(D
00
>
>,
E
CU
N
N
- �Q
N
N 0
N
S
E
U) U
W
Lu C/)
O
D
U
W 0
0-
Q
Q 2
0 0
0 0-
C/5 Q
3: 0�
Cl.
O
U
70
O
N
(1)
O
U
C/)
(6
N
Cn
Cl.
U
z
O
O
J
N
U
�
N
O
_0
U
�
O1
O
O
N
U
N
—
Cn
L
z
V
O
O
L
OW,�,
OW,�,
Q
/O
/0
LL
U
U-
O
d
0
0
(6
UN
a
O
O
E
_
L
L
_
O
O
_0
ar
(6
()
3: (1)
Q
U
-0
-0
U
N U
L
U
O
U
_0
N
>�
0
C/) Q
O
�
O
(1)
U
C/)
z
O
J
U
�
N
_0
U
O
U
N
Cn
L
z
V
Q
U
U-
O
d
0
0
(6
UN
O
E
_
O
O
_0
(6
N
U
O
O
U
_0
N
0
�
(6
_0
U
_
O
(6
U
(6
-
�
Q
O
N
LU
-0
U
•�
U
O
O
i
N
N
(U
U)
U
N
Q
E
O
O
_0
U
E
Q
U
O
CI.
L
O
U
(6
U
O
O
O
0
N
0
w
�
O
O
U
O
N
(6
O
4--
U
L
U
N
O
U
O
U
D
OU
N
O
U
(6
Cl.
L
Q
U
N
(6
O
N
(6
(6
O
-0
Q
C`.
O
E
O
O
O
'L
p
(_
�
O
c
D
O
Q
U
U
O
(6
U
(6
O
Q
U
O
U
O
m
U
CI.
Z3
U.
-0
U
O
L
fA
L
O
E
C`
O
70�
O
Q
U
U
O
Q
'0
O
E
(6
N
U
0
O
V
U
O
V
Q
(6
U
O
-0
E
0
U
0
0)
U
V
O
D
U
U
O
N
0
Z3
g
(1)
(1)
D
U
O
O
N
O
O
D O
O
N
6
O
0
U
U
O
U
U
0
E
N
0
O
0
5
O
C)
U
mL
U.
°a0
a
o
(1)
(1)
�
(1)
�
O
a
0)
U
o
U
0-
=�
D
O
J0�
S0-1
2
w01-
a
2
0<
0
m
z
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
The climate of the Southeast is uniquely warm
and wet, with mild winters and high humidity,
compared with the rest of the continental United
States. The average annual temperature of the
Southeast did not change significantly over the
past century as a whole. Since 1970, however,
annual average temperature has risen about 2 °F,
with the greatest seasonal increase in tempera-
ture occurring during the winter months. The
number of freezing days in the Southeast has
declined by four to seven days per year for most
of the region since the mid- 1970s.
Average autumn precipitation has increased
by 30 percent for the region since 1901. The
decline in fall precipitation in South Florida
contrasts strongly with the regional average.
There has been an increase in heavy downpours
in many parts of the region,"o,ssi while the
percentage of the region experiencing moder-
ate to severe drought increased over the past
three decades. The area of moderate to severe
spring and summer drought has increased by 12
percent and 14 percent, respectively, since the mid -
1970s. Even in the fall months, when precipitation
tended to increase in most of the region, the extent
of drought increased by 9 percent.
Climate models project continued warming in all
seasons across the Southeast and an increase in
the rate of warming through the end of this cen-
tury. The projected rates
of warming are more than
double those experienced
in the Southeast since 1975,
with the greatest tempera-
ture increases projected
to occur in the summer
months. The number of very
hot days is projected to rise
at a greater rate than the av-
erage temperature. Under a
lower emissions scenario,91
40, ,4 -10 •25 ,,,20 05 00 , -5 0 5 90 $5 20 25 30 35 -4
Pol,reM Mange, N�DAA/NICIDC 382
average temperatures in the region are projected
to rise by about 4.5 °F by the 2080s, while a higher
emissions scenario 91 yields about 9 °F of average
warming (with about a 10.5 °F increase in summer,
and a much higher heat index). Spring and sum-
mer rainfall is projected to decline in South Florida
during this century. Except for indications that
the amount of rainfall from individual hurricanes
will increase '61 climate models provide divergent
Observed temperature and precipitation changes in the Southeast are summarized above for two
different period S.313 Southeast average temperature declined from 1901 to 1970 and then increased
strongly since 1970.
01
Temperature Change in °F
Precipitation change in
1901 -2008
1970 -2008
1901 -2008
1970 -2008
Annual
0.3
1.6
Annual
6.0
-7.7
Winter
0.2
2.7
Winter
1.2
-9.6
Spring
0.4
1.2
Spring
1.7
-29.2
Summer
0.4
1.6
Summer
-4.0
3.6
Fall
0.2
1.1
Fall
27.4
0.1
Observed temperature and precipitation changes in the Southeast are summarized above for two
different period S.313 Southeast average temperature declined from 1901 to 1970 and then increased
strongly since 1970.
01
US. C:;IIo ba l CI °Harm^ esear,::[° IPirogirarn
112
Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States
15 30 45 60 75 910 105 120 135, 150 165 IBO >180
Number ff Days per Year 117
results for future precipitation for the remainder of
the Southeast. Models project that Gulf Coast states
will tend to have less rainfall in winter and spring,
compared with the more northern states in the region
(see map on page 31 in the National Climate Change
section). Because higher temperatures lead to more
evaporation of moisture from soils and water loss
` from plants, the frequency, duration, and intensity of
droughts are likely to continue to increase.
The destructive potential of Atlantic hurricanes has
p
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII r
increased since 1970, correlated with an increase in
sea surface temperature. A similar relationship with
the frequency of landfallin hurricanes has not been
q Y g
established9s,314 -117 (see National Climate Change sec -
tion for a discussion of past trends and future projec-
tions). An increase in average summer wave heights
Number ofDays � � along the U.S. Atlantic coastline since 1975 has been
attributed to a progressive increase in hurricane
2 2 1 .10 . � '�,�,; power.112 ,311 The intensity of Atlantic hurricanes is
N'OAA iN'e. f ae. likely to increase during this century with higher
I- 1970s, the number of days per year in which the peak wind speeds, rainfall intensity, and storm surge
Its below freezing has declined by four to seven Mays over 91,112
�utheast. Some areas, such as western Louisiana, have height and strength. Even with no increase in
ore than 24 fewer freezing days. Climate models project hurricane intensity, coastal inundation and shoreline
ming across the region, with the greatest increases in retreat would increase as sea -level rise accelerates,
xpected in summer, and the number of very hot days
greater rate than the average temperature. which is one of the most certain and most costly con -
sequences of a warming climate .164
Projected increases in air and at
temperatures will au,
heat-related
stresses for people, plants, and animall
The warming projected for the Southeast during
the next 50 to 100 years will create heat - related
stress for people, agricultural crops, livestock,
trees, transportation and other infrastructure, fish,
and wildlife. The average temperature change is
not as important for all of these sectors and natu-
ral systems as the projected increase in maximum
and minimum temperatures. Examples of potential
impacts include:
• Increased illness and death due to greater
summer heat stress, unless effective adaptation
measures are implemented .164
• Decline in forest growth and agricultural crop
production due to the combined effects of ther-
mal stress and declining soil moisture.39'
• Increased buckling of pavement and
railways. 217,222
• Decline in dissolved oxygen in stream, lakes,
and shallow aquatic habitats leading to fish
kills and loss of aquatic species diversity.
• Decline in production of cattle and other
rangeland livestock.391 Significant impacts on
beef cattle occur at continuous temperatures
in the 90 to 100 °F range, increasing in danger
as the humidity level increases (see Agricul-
ture sector).391 Poultry and swine are primarily
raised in indoor operations, so warming would
increase energy requirements 193
A reduction in very cold days is likely to reduce
the loss of human life due to cold - related stress,
while heat stress and related deaths in the sum-
mer months are likely to increase. The reduction
in cold - related deaths is not expected to offset the
increase in heat - related deaths (see Human Health
sector). Other effects of the projected increases in
temperature include more frequent outbreaks of
shellfish -borne diseases in coastal waters, altered
distribution of native plants and animals, local
loss of many threatened and endangered species,
displacement of native species by invasive species,
and more frequent and intense wildfires.
somm
Decreased a availability
affect likely to economy as
well a s its natural
Decreased water availability due to increased
temperature and longer periods of time between
rainfall events, coupled with an increase in societal
demand is very likely to affect many sectors of the
Southeast's economy. The amount and timing of
water available to natural systems is also affected
by climate change, as well as by human response
strategies such as increasing storage capacity
(dams)142 and increasing acreage of irrigated crop-
192 The 2007 water shortage in the Atlanta re-
gion created serious conflicts between three states,
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (which operates
the dam at Lake Lanier), and the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, which is charged with protecting
endangered species. As humans seek to adapt to
climate change by manipulating water resources,
streamflow and biological diversity are likely to be
reduced .142 During droughts, recharge of ground-
water will decline as the temperature and spacing
between rainfall events increase. Responding by
increasing groundwater pumping will further stress
or deplete aquifers and place increasing strain on
surface water resources. Increasing evaporation
and plant water loss rates alter the balance of runoff
and groundwater recharge, which is likely to lead
to saltwater intrusion into shallow aquifers in many
parts of the Southeast. 142
In Atlanta and Athens, Georgia, 2007 was the second driest year on
record. Among the numerous effects of the rainfall shortage were
restrictions on water use in some cities and lowwater levels in area
lakes. In the photo, a dock lies on dry land near Aqualand Marina on
Lake Lanier (located northeast of Atlanta) in December 2007.
113
US. GIoball CI °Harm^ wean,::[° IPirogirarrr
114
Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States
Sea-level rise and the likely increase in
hurricane and associated storm,
surge will b among
consequences of climate fi„
An increase in average sea level of up to 2 feet or
more and the likelihood of increased hurricane
intensity and associated storm surge are likely to
be among the most costly consequences of cli-
mate change for this region (see National Climate
Change section). As sea level rises, coastal shore-
lines will retreat. Wetlands will be inundated and
eroded away, and low -lying areas including some
communities will be inundated more frequently —
some permanently — by the advancing sea. Current
buildings and infrastructure were not designed
to withstand the intensity of the projected storm
surge, which would cause catastrophic damage. As
temperature increases and rainfall patterns change,
Miles u.JSGS:,v,
soil moisture and runoff to the coast are likely to
be more variable. The salinity of estuaries, coastal
wetlands, and tidal rivers is likely to increase in the
southeastern coastal zone, thereby altering coastal
ecosystems and displacing them farther inland if no
barriers exist. More frequent storm surge flooding
and permanent inundation of coastal ecosystems
and communities is likely in some low -lying areas,
particularly along the central Gulf Coast where the
land surface is sinking."',39' Rapid acceleration in
the rate of increase in sea -level rise could threaten
a large portion of the Southeast coastal zone. The
likelihood of a catastrophic increase in the rate of
sea -level rise is dependent upon ice sheet response
to warming, which is the subject of much scientific
uncertainty (see Global Climate Change section)."
Such rapid rise in sea level is likely to result in the
destruction of barrier islands and wetlands. 257,390
Compared to the present coastal situation, for
which vulnerability is quite high, an increase in
hurricane intensity will further affect low -lying
coastal ecosystems and coastal communi-
ties along the Gulf and South Atlantic coastal
margin. An increase in intensity is very likely
to increase inland and coastal flooding, coastal
erosion rates, wind damage to coastal forests,
and wetland loss. Major hurricanes also pose LL
a severe risk to people, personal property, and
public infrastructure in the Southeast, and this
risk is likely to be exacerbated........ Hurricanes
have their greatest impact at the coastal mar-
gin where they make landfall, causing storm
surge, severe beach erosion, inland flooding,
and wind - related casualties for both cultural
and natural resources. Some of these impacts
extend farther inland, affecting larger areas.
Recent examples of societal vulnerability to
severe hurricanes include Katrina and Rita in
2005, which were responsible for the loss of
more than 1,800 lives and the net loss of 217
square miles of low -lying coastal marshes and
barrier islands in southern Louisiana.390,396
somm
fW Q 1910 11WO *30 1 O 1950 V960 1970 IM 1990, 2000 210
Year rd OA A/ NIC. DC.3 r7
major throughout the region, causing
to ecosystems r to the benefits they provide
to people. I
Ecological systems provide numerous important services
that have high economic and cultural value in the Southeast.
Ecological effects cascade among both living and physical
systems, as illustrated in the following examples of ecologi-
cal disturbances that result in abrupt responses, as opposed to
gradual and proportional responses to warming:
• The sudden loss of coastal landforms that serve as a storm -
surge barrier for natural resources and as a homeland for
coastal communities (such as in a major hurricane). 154,390
• An increase in sea level can have no apparent effect until
an elevation is reached that allows widespread, rapid salt-
water intrusion into coastal forests and freshwater aqui-
fers. 398
• Lower soil moisture and higher temperatures leading to in-
tense wildfires or pest outbreaks (such as the southern pine
beetle) in southeastern forests;399 intense droughts leading
to the drying of lakes, ponds, and wetlands; and the local
or global extinction of riparian and aquatic specie S.141
Flooding damage in Louisiana due to Hurricane Katrina
up
115
US. GIoball CI °Harm^ wean,::[° IPirogirarrr
• A precipitous decline of wetland- dependent
coastal fish and shellfish populations due to the
rapid loss of coastal marsh."'
Quality of life will be affected by
increasing heat stress, water scarcity,
severe weather events, and
availability of insura i
at-risk
Over the past century, the southeastern "sunbelt"
has attracted people, industry, and investment. The
Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States
population of Florida more than doubled during
the past three decades, and growth rates in most
other southeastern states were in the range of 45 to
75 percent (see population map, page 55). Future
population growth and the quality of life for exist-
ing residents is likely to be affected by the many
challenges associated with climate change, such as
reduced insurance availability, increased insurance
cost, and increases in water scarcity, sea -level rise,
extreme weather events, and heat stress. Some of
these problems, such as increasing heat and declin-
ing air quality, will be especially acute in cities.
116
Observed Changes in Precipitation
1901 to 2007
NZ
Figure 2 -5. Observed changes in precipitation between 1901 and 2007 in the Southeast (Source:
Karl et al. 2009).
Figure 3-3. Current forest types as determined from forest inventory data and potential future forest types
under five scenarios of climate change. (Source: Iverson and Prasad 2001, (D Springer, used with permission).
Chapter 3: Projected Impacts of Climate Change in North Carolina 57
tl
O
Q
Q
C
Q
E
c
O
L
W
Q
O
Q
cn
r
o
N
L
O
Q
L
O
cn
Q
-W
O
CL
0
U
Q
N
U)
L
U
U
You Might Also Like
Recommended by
How To Pay Down Your House At A
Furious Pace If You Owe Less Than
$300k
Sponsored I LowerMyBills.com
Hearings postponed on Duke
Energy's 15 percent rate hike
Wilmington officials demand
answers from state, feds on chemical
in water
Police searching for man who
assaulted woman at Lake Johnson
Editorial: Cooper must make safe water top
priority
Posted 5:00 a.m. today
Updated 5:38 a.m. today
19 G i Share ((`J�) 46 Reac boins
A CBC Editorial: Tuesday, July 18, 2017; Editorial # 8187
The following is the opinion of Capitol Broadcasting Company
Gov. Roy Cooper didn't inherit a very high standard from former Gov. Pat McCrory when it comes to dealing with citizens about possible
threats to their health - like a dangerous level of cancer - causing chemicals in the drinking water of homeowners with wells near coal ash
dumps.
McCrory's coal ash legacy wasn't pretty. The infighting over well -water standards blew up in embarrassing fashion, with political appointees
bickering and intimidating scientists because they didn't like their conclusions, and state scientists resigning in protest.
While the Cooper administration may have cleared that pathetic standard so far, it recently fell short of what the public deserves when rolling
out health and safety standards for private wells near coal ash ponds.
No sooner did the state Department of Environmental Quality announce its performance standards for well water filtration systems than word
emerged last week that scientists at the state Department of Health and Human Services had told them the standard for hexavalent chromium
was "not health protective."
Haven't we seen this bad movie before? This latest difference of opinion is being portrayed as an honest disagreement.
Still, if the goal was to: 1. Make sure that people weren't drinking water that would make them sick and; 2. Be sure citizens had confidence in
that assessment - state officials missed their mark.
There is hope. Rather than follow the lead of his predecessors and seek to bully other bureaucrats, the news media and the public into
submission, DEQ Secretary Michael Regan announced that a state advisory board would provide "science- based" guidance to be used in
addressing the standard for chromium in ground water. That panel will provide advice to the state Environmental Management Commission,
which can set any revised standards.
Regan had directed the advisory board to review scientific and health data as well as conduct public forums to address the issues and hear
concerns of the public. The goal is to have consensus around a standard by the end of the year.
Even amid the General Assembly's efforts to shrink and minimize the regulatory authority of state agencies, it remains a basic function of
government to assure the safety of its citizens - in this case that the water they drink won't kill them. The Cooper administration needs to
remain vigilant and be sure the advisory board fulfills its mandate.
Regan and Secretary Mandy Cohen, his counterpart in the Department of Health and Human Services, need to work together, openly, so
citizens are assured the rules and regulations are established in an open and transparent matter.
Further, the first priority is public safety not the political posture of any public officials or the financial interests of powerful companies.
The problems left with the inadequate and inappropriate storage of coal ash aren't merely a punching bag for politicians to spar with during a
campaign.
The campaign is done. Citizens deserve to know their government sets their health and safety as the top priority.
Copyright 2017 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Farm Family Partners with ERA, Orange County on Conservation Easement
ORANGE COUNTY, JUNE 21, 2017 — Geof and Jane Gledhill of Windy Hill Farm in Cedar Grove
north of Hillsborough are fully invested in sustainability. They place a premium on improving the
health of the land, and respect both the animals they raise as well as the consumers of their beef,
eggs, honey, and produce.
Their commitment to protecting natural resources is
also what inspired them to work with the Eno River
Association and Orange County to place a
permanent conservation easement on a 30 -acre
portion of their property. Secured in June, the
easement protects 3,000 feet along Lick Creek and
three feeder streams. The creek and streams feed
directly into Lake Orange, an important water
supply for the Town of Hillsborough.
Conservation easements are written agreements that
permanently protect land for its natural or cultural
resource values while leaving it in private ownership. Besides safeguarding drinking water for people and
businesses in Hillsborough, the Lick Creek project protects water supplies for Durham and Raleigh
downstream. It also protects a scenic view shed along Carr Store Road in northern Orange County.
"We are honored to partner with the Eno River Association and Orange County in the perpetual conservation
of our Lick Creek property. And, we thank the City of Raleigh for participating financially," said Geoff and
Jane Gledhill. "The property is located in the headwaters of Eno River and is remarkable for its pristine
condition and beautiful stand of mature Tulip Poplar trees."
Funding to secure the easement was provided by the Orange County Lands Legacy Program, the City of
Raleigh's Upper Neuse Clean Water Initiative, the Eno River Association and the landowners.
Committed landowners and both private and public funding and are essential to this type of conservation,
according to Barbara Driscoll, President of the member - supported Eno River Association. "Conserving
private lands is absolutely necessary to protect water quality, wildlife habitat and our rural landscape," said
Driscoll. "Our members are thrilled."
Mark Dorosin, Chair of the Orange County Board of Commissioners, said, "This conservation easement
exemplifies the County's dedication to preserving our natural resources and family farms. The County has
been able to protect even more of these special places by partnering with landowners and others such as the
City of Raleigh and the Eno River Association, as was the case for this project. This is a win -win for all
citizens, and we thank the Gledhill family for their vision and commitment to conserving these resources."
The Eno River Association was instrumental in creating Eno River State Park in the early 1970s. The
nonprofit land trust continues to acquire land and permanent conservation easements across northern Durham
and Orange counties for water quality, public recreation and important plants and wildlife habitat. The
group's efforts have resulted in the permanent protection of more than 7,169 acres.
Orange County's Lands Legacy Program was established in 2000, and has since conserved over 3,376 acres
of land containing natural areas, riparian buffers, prime farm and forestland, cultural sites, and for future park
sites. Orange County has collaborated on a number of projects with the Eno River Association in the Upper
Eno River basin and currently co -hold four conservation easements there.
I
0
twli�
A.
OPP,
9r
0
E
0
0
E
0
4-
Z3
I.-
'2,
Ol
R
0
6
9
ca
CO
L
Co
ca
ca
CD
ca
E
0
(a
E
.0
O
CL
0
CD
r—
"
Co
0
ca
o
co
CL
E
ca
E
N
LL
V
_2
C.)
CL
ca
E
E
Co
ca
0
cu
ca
m
CD
0
4-a
CD
co
co
O
E
0
0
E
0
4-
Z3
I.-
'2,
Ol
R
0
6
9
W
u
z
.4t
'E
E
0
0
0
z
C/)
M
Co
O
cu
4-a
O
cc
CL
. . . . ... . . /,/,/,/,/,
. . . .......
O...
..... . . . . . .
O
O
CA
/mm
W
u
z
.4t
Allanfic
The American South Will Bear the
Worst of Climate Change's Costs
Global warming will intensify regional inequality in the United States, according to a
revolutionary new economic assessment of the phenomenon.
A Texas State Park police officer walks on the cracked and drought- wracked lakebed of O.C. Fisher Lake, in San Angelos, Texas.
Tony Gutierrez / AP
I"1GRIII3III11415 RIIF IIVNIIIIIIC "NIIIIIICI1lR, 11 JUN 29, 2017 11 „?';I l ?,,! �e
Climate change will aggravate economic inequality in the United States, essentially transferring wealth from poor counties in the Southeast
and the Midwest to well -off communities in the Northeast and on the coasts, according to the most detailed economic assessment of the
phenomenon ever conducted.
The study, published Thursday in Science, simulates the costs of global warming in excruciating detail, modeling every day of weather in
every U.S. county during the 21st century. It finds enormous disparities in how rising temperatures will affect American communities:
Texas, Florida, and the Deep South will bleed income in the broiling heat, while some chillier northern states gain moderate benefits.
"We are really sure the South is going to get hammered," says Solomon Hsiang, one of the authors of the paper and a professor of public
policy at the University of California, Berkeley. "The South is really, really negatively affected by climate change, much more so than the
North. That wasn't something we were expecting going in."
Overall, the paper finds that climate change will cost the United States 1.2 percent of its GDP for every additional degree Celsius of
warming, though that figure is somewhat uncertain. If global temperatures rise by four degrees Celsius by 2100 —which is very roughly
where the current terms of the Paris Agreement would put the planet —U.S. GDP could shrink anywhere between 1.6 and 5.6 percent.
Yet beyond its initial findings, the paper represents a major breakthrough for the field of climate economics. Previously, the best financial
forecasts of climate change approximated damages for the entire country at once. This new study worked from the bottom up, building its
model from dozens of microeconomic studies into how climate change is already affecting regional economies across the United States.
Every algorithm in the model emerges from a previously observed relationship in real -world data.
"This is like the adults entering the room. Economists have, for a quarter century, insisted that more work needs to be done to estimate
climate damages. This team has done so," said Gernot Wagner, a researcher Harvard University and the former lead senior economist at
the Environmental Defense Fund, in an email. He was not connected to the study.
But this emphasis on the observed means that the research omitted many serious risks of climate change —even those the researchers
considered important —if the data describing them was too paltry. The estimates do not include "non- market goods" like the loss of
biodiversity or natural splendor. In other words: Most people agree that dead polar bears have an economic cost, but there's no consensus
on how to approximate it.
The study also doesn't account for the increased likelihood of "tail risks" —that is, unlikely events with catastrophic consequences. Many
researchers believe that global warming will make social strife, mass migration, or global military calamity more likely, but those events are,
by definition, hard to predict. The same goes for economic disaster prompted by the onset of a "mega- drought" or the rapid collapse of the
Greenland ice sheet.
"When we had the Dust Bowl, we saw everyone clear out of the Midwest and flood labor markets in the urban centers on the coast," said
Hsiang. Nothing like this kind of internal migration is modeled in the Science study.
All in all, the study's assessments should be interpreted as the most rigorous attempt ever to describe what global warming will cost the
United States in a "normal" world. It describes an America that has retained a well- organized economy, held together as a political
community, and benefitted from the ongoing general global peace that began 70 years ago.
Even in that harmonious world, climate change will make the United States pay.
What Climate Change Will Cost Every U.S. County, 208o -2o99
(Kopp, Hsiang, et al. / Science)
Across the country's southern half —and especially in states that border the Gulf of Mexico — climate change could impose the equivalent of a
20- percent tax on county -level income, according to the study. Harvests will dwindle, summer energy costs will soar, rising seas will erase
real- estate holdings, and heatwaves will set off epidemics of cardiac and pulmonary disease.
The loss of human life dwarfs all the other economic costs of climate change. Almost every county between El Paso, Texas, and Charlotte,
North Carolina, could see their mortality rate rise by more than 20 people out of every 100,000. By comparison, car accidents killed about
11 Americans out of every 100,000 in 2015.
But in the South and Southwest, other damages stack up. Some counties in eastern Texas could see agricultural yields fall by more than 50
percent. West Texas and Arizona may see energy costs rise by 20 percent.
How Climate Change Will Change Agriculture and Public Health by 208o
Two maps from the study show how projected high temperatures and changes in precipitation will
change agricultural yields and mortality rates. (Kopp, Hsiang, et al.)
Simultaneously, the study finds that some regions may reap moderate economic benefits from global warming. New England, the Pacific
Northwest, and the Great Lake states may all prosper as growing seasons lengthen, and the number of frigid, deadly winter days decrease.
In the most optimistic scenarios, some counties could see their incomes rise by 10 percent by the middle of the century.
This may make some Americans scratch their heads. The high costs of climate change will fall on many of the places where people today
seem least worried about the phenomenon.
"Most of the risk maps show that climate change is going to be terrible for Trump country. Like, it's not clear at all —from these maps —why
reducing climate change is not a more urgent issue for Republicans, purely as a matter of representing their people," said Joseph Majkut, the
director of climate policy at the Niskanen Center, a libertarian think tank, in an email. He was not connected to the study.
Hsiang explained the disparity as a consequence of the hot places getting hotter. "If you're in a hot location already, then increasing the
temperature tends to be much more damaging than if you're somewhere that is cooler. Moving from 70 to 75 [degrees Fahrenheit] is not as
big a deal as going from 90 to 95," he told me. "The South, today, is already very hot. So as the country warms up, the South is
disproportionately bearing the burden."
In fact, the only factor of climate change that doesn't specifically hurt the South is a projected rise in property crime associated with climate
change. The incidence of nonviolent property crime doesn't rise on summer days, but it tends to fall on the coldest days. "It's hard to burgle
houses or steal cars when there's a lot of snow on the ground," said Hsiang, laughing.
As the North's winters get less icy, the region will see property -crime rates increase. But scorching summer days won't alter the South's
crime rates. This is, however, a very small factor, Hsiang cautioned.
He also warned that the paper's economic projections end in 2099. If climate change continues unabated into the 22nd century, the North
will likely eventually "flip over" into much higher temperatures and more severe economic damages, Hsiang said.
The Science paper is the first product of the Climate Impact Lab, a 25- person consortium of economists and policy experts led by researchers
from the University of California, the University of Chicago, Rutgers University, and the Rhodium Group. This study is the first part of their
new global assessment of the economic costs of human - caused climate change.
"What has happened over the last 10 years is there's been a revolution in our ability to measure the relationship between the climate and the
economy, partly out of new, real -world data," Hsiang told me. "This paper somewhat came out of the realization that all that new research
wasn't going anywhere. It wasn't informing how we think about climate and the economy because those older models weren't built in a way
to absorb new findings."
Their new program is called SEAGLAS. It's designed to integrate new research into the regional and local effects of policy into a larger,
holistic view of a certain country or part of the world. So while this study focused on U.S. county -level data about crime, human health,
agriculture, labor supply, and energy demand, the researchers intend to fold new sectors and data sources into it in the future.
"It's a great development, and the future of climate economics," said Majkut. "This new study puts us on much more satisfying empirical
ground as we consider the relationships between climate change and economic output. For that alone it should be praised."
He did question one of the assumptions underlying the project: whether previously observed relationships will continue to hold in a future
world. "If the high rates of human mortality can be eliminated or reduced with adaptation (more air conditioning, sports gels, better
medicine, or people moving out of the South) then the economic picture really changes and the costs of climate will be reduced
dramatically," he said.
For that reason, Majkut said, "the research has a long way to go before it approaches anything like a comprehensive estimate of climate risk.
Meanwhile, we emit."
"SEAGLAS provides a terrific framework to build upon," said Wagner in an email. "We've always known that there are enormous regional
disparities across the globe. The fact that damages vary so much within a rich country like the U.S. is striking."
So if climate modeling remains imperfect, what's the point of doing it? Researchers have spent the last 25 years trying to forecast the
economic damages of climate change. Eventually, they hope to arrive at the social cost of carbon —the damage to the economy dealt by
every additional ton of carbon dioxide —which would inform the creation of a carbon tax. Yet across all those years, political opposition to a
carbon tax has only hardened, and the amount of carbon in the atmosphere has only gone up.
Hsiang said that precision is still important. "If we have a rough number, is that good enough ?" he asked. "I definitely think we're never
going to know the cost of climate change to seven decimal places. But it's unclear what a rough number means, because there's been very
little benchmarking to any real -world data." (An additional paper in this edition of Science clarifies that, so far, SEAGLAS has produced
social costs of carbon that are fairly similar to two of the three most - famous economic climate models.)
"To be honest, transforming the global energy system is not a cheap task. It's not a small thing," Hsiang said. "And in some places, a lot of
the concerns about implementing policy are related to concerns about the reliability of the numbers being used. It's a little like the doctor
coming in and saying you're sick and he has some medicine which might work. You'll feel much more comfortable about the medicine if you
know there's been clinical research and systematic control trials demonstrating it works."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
i 1011,311111 ,,,5t 11 iiWll:: "ell::::: is an associate editor at The Atlantic, where he covers technology.
Twitter 11111' Facebook ®® Email
Imo^
The report includes a timeline of major environmental milestones, key indicators, and
accomplishments across City departments. Taken together, these components tell a story of how
Durham is becoming a better, more sustainable community for its current population and for
future generations.
In addition to shedding light on Durham's recent accomplishments, the information in this report
will help inform a comprehensive Sustainability Plan for the City of Durham. The plan, under
development in 2017, will assist the City in meeting objectives put forth in Goal 5 of the Strategic
Plan: stewardship of physical and environmental assets. It will identify several overarching goals
across the three central areas of sustainability— environmental, economic, and social — as well as
strategic objectives within respective City departments to achieve those goals. By reflecting on our
progress we can identify new opportunities to make Durham an even more resilient city.
What is SusealiiIhan 11 lii111lire
Sustainability is defined as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability
of future generations to meet their own needs. By ensuring environmental stewardship, social
responsibility, and economic prosperity, a sustainable city offers widespread benefits that enhance
the quality of life for all residents, present and future. This report highlights the City of Durham's
commitment to achieving this vision of sustainability.
City of Durham 20!7 Swtainability IReport
Climate change is a global problem with local solutions. Gases emitted from burning fossil fuels and
other human activities trap energy in our atmosphere, leading to increased threats from extreme
weather events, droughts, floods, heat waves, and pests. While the implications are global, emission
reduction starts at the local level. The City is committed to mitigating climate impacts to create safer,
healthier, more resilient communities through reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing
resource efficiency.
Greenhouse Gay Mitigation
Durham was the first community in North Carolina
to adopt a greenhouse gas reduction plan. This
plan, approved bythe City and County in 2007, calls
for a 50% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
by government (City, County, and Durham Public
Schools) and a 30% reduction community -wide by
2030.
The City- County Sustainability Office oversees the
Greenhouse Gas Emissions from City Buildings
15000
12000
o�
V
0 9000
6000
3000
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
greenhouse gas inventory, tracking annual progress
towards these emission reduction goals. Since 2009,
the City has reduced emissions in its buildings by almost 22 %, while residential and commercial sectors
have each seen a decrease of 7% and the industrial sector has decreased emissions overall by about 3%
since 2008. Over this time, our population in Durham has increased approximately 10 %.
II °° lybrid lf
Almost half of the GoDurham fleet are hybrid
electric buses which are about 13% more fuel
efficient than traditional diesel buses. That adds up
to a savings of almost 600,000 gallons of diesel fuel
per year.
11:..:.]1ectiric Vehicles and Ih a r iii in
Stations
Durham was the first community in North Carolina
Hybrid to adopt an Electric Vehicle and Charging Station
GoDurham Bus Plan. The City owns four all- electric vehicles for departmental use and has installed four public vehicle
charging stations. For a map of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations, visit: ll.Auagslhare.corn.
Green III ° °III -t
The City's vehicle fleet has been recognized for fouryears in a row as one of the 50 Green Government
Fleets by Green Fleet Magazine. It was the only fleet in North Carolina to have that designation in
2016. This award is based on a comprehensive set of criteria including how well our Fleet Management
Department manages emissions, has policies in place to respect the environment and taxpayer
investments, involves employees, utilizes vehicles efficiently, and educates employees about vehicle use
City of IDurharn 20!7 Sustainability IReport
A TIMELINE OF DURHAM SUSTAI NAB ILITY
City of (Durham 20!7 Sustai ability IReport
and maintenance. The City strives to purchase fuel - efficient and clean- burning diesel vehicles, reduce
idling, and mitigate the environmental impact of servicing City vehicles through the use of eco- friendly
fluids, cleaners, and automotive waste recycling.
Solar hot water panels on top of Fire Station 8
Green 11::..:]neirgY suIimply
In 2009, the City partnered with Methane Power
to convert methane generated from decomposing
waste in the closed landfill into electricity. Through
this process, the City earns money by supplying
the methane; electricity is generated, offsetting
electricity that would have been produced by coal
or nuclear power, and methane — a greenhouse
gas 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide
— is destroyed. Each year the project generates
approximately 2 -2.4 megawatts of electricity,
enough to power about 1,900 homes.
Durham's landfill- methane -to- electricity facility
City employees regularly strive to save energy
in the workplace through small actions like
turning off the lights, monitors, and dressing
for the weather. The City was ranked in
the top 5 on the leaderboard for the Duke
Energy Smart Energy in Offices campaign
in 2016.
Reducing energy use is important for the City to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and utility bills.
Since 2012, the City has committed $1.7 million to an Energy Efficiency Capital Improvement Fund to
increase energy efficiency of City owned facilities. These funds are used for energy saving projects such
as upgrading lighting, replacing old heating and air conditioning units with more efficient ones, and
adding automated controls on systems so that they turn off when they are not needed. To date, these
improvements have saved approximately $500,000 in utility costs, with additional savings expected to
accrue throughout the lifetime of the new equipment.
City of IDurharn 20!7 Sustainability IReport
-te r
Energy used in processing drinking water and cleaning water before discharging it back into streams
accounts for roughly half of the electricity and one -third of the natural gas used by the City. In 2011, the
Water Management Department created Energy Management Plans for the City's two water reclamation
facilities, committing to energy saving processes and equipment investments that reduce the amount
of energy used to provide us with clean, healthy water. The Water Management Department captures
methane produced during the wastewater treatment process and burns it to run boilers for aerobic
digestion, resulting in energy savings and reducing emissions of methane.
Residents are invited to tour the City's two
water reclamation facilities to learn about
how our wastewater is treated to remove
pollutants and solids before returning
to our local creeks.
To request a tour foryour student or civic
group, visit: durhamnc_gov/t065_
or ca 11919 -560 -4381.
Streetlights iii "'rii e ° m Ill,,, iii Ill t
Residents tour the Williams Water Treatment Plant
Streetlights and traffic lights make up approximately 22% of the City's electricity use. To reduce the
impact of this necessary lighting, the City and the NC Department of Transportation have converted all of
the traffic lights to LEDs which are up to 80% more efficient than traditional lighting. 95% of the energy in
LEDs is converted into light and only 5% is wasted as heat compared to fluorescent lights which convert
95% of energy to heat and only 5% into light.
Wateir II[. :.,, de iiic
Durham's residential water use consistently falls below
the national average per person, in large part due to the
water conservation programs provided by the City's Water
Management Department. These programs focus on
customer awareness, use of water - efficient devices and
fixtures, and programmatic incentives. One such program
is the residential rebate for replacing water - wasting toilets
with high - efficiency ones. Toilets, on average, account for
nearly a quarter of the total water used in homes. Standard
toilets use at least 1.6 gallons per flush. WaterSense®- labeled
high - efficiency toilets (HETs) use at least 20 percent less than
standard ones and can save the average family nearly 13,000
gallons of water everyyear.
Waste ii irm iii irn ii �i� of in
Durham's residential water use
consistently falls well below state
and national averages.
Solid waste, also known as trash, has several negative environmental impacts including air pollution from
trash collection and hauling as well as methane creation when carbon based items like food, fiber, and
wood decompose. The City encourages people to use less and recycle more through offering curbside,
City of IDurharu 201' 5ustainability Report
single- stream recycling and by issuing higher fees
for garbage disposal at the City's Waste Disposal
and Recycling Center than for yard waste and
recycling. The Waste Disposal and Recycling Center
also offers recycling and disposal of electronic
waste, household hazardous waste, scrap tires, and
appliances free of charge.
Este Characterization Stuff
In January 2016, the City completed a waste
characterization study, which found that
approximately 66% of the waste stream from single
family residential homes could be diverted. Of this,
Durham is committed to reducing waste by
encouraging reuse. For example, the City has a
swap shop where residents can drop off reusable
items and take away those items that they may
be able to use. In 2017, the City partnered with
Durham County and Keep Durham Beautiful to
host the first annual Durham ReUse Rodeo - a
one -stop drop off for donating and recycling
unwanted items. To learn more, visit:
dujrhamnc.gov /878 or call 919 - 560 -4186.
27.5% of the trash stream for single family residences consisted of recyclable materials, 28.5% was food
waste and other compostable material, and 10% was textiles. These results have informed a number of
waste diversion pilot programs expected to begin in 2017.
Construction
& Treated V\
4.4%
Electronics,
0.4%
Textiles,
10.0%
All Other PI;
non - recycla
11%
Breakdown of Single - Family Residential Waste (% by weight)
Newspaper, Corrugated Cardboard,
_ .. 1.4% 2.9%
Clean Wood Waste, Low Grade Paper,
0.7% 10.4%
:ling Paper,
'lastic Containers,
-.7%
Bulky Rigid Plastic,
0.9%
Metal Cans,
2.2%
Glass Containers,
2.1%
Yard Waste,
0.9%
IIIIIIIIIII Approximately 28% of single - family residential waste are items that can be recycled in the City's current
recycling program.
IIIllI Compostable items makeup approximately 29% of single - family residential waste and offer the greatest
opportunity for the City to divert additional types of waste.
City of IDurharn 20!7 Sustairrability IReport
Focusing on the sustainability of our built environment is one way the City of Durham seeks to fulfill
our mission to be the leading city in providing an excellent and sustainable quality of life. This includes
promoting a clean and secure water supply, walkable neighborhoods, affordable housing, access to public
parkland, and diverse transportation choices such as walking, biking and public transit.
Clean and Reliable Water Supply
The City of Durham's Water Management Department provides over 26 million gallons per day of clean
and readily - available water for residential and commercial customers. Regularly monitoring water quality
for more than 150 contaminants, Durham is in full compliance with the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency Safe Drinking Water Act, guaranteeing that our water meets the strictest public health standards.
Aff-ardable II° °III iii iin
113WHI City Connector
In August 2010, the City and Duke University launched a
fare -FREE bus route that connects Downtown Durham,
Duke University, Ninth Street, and Golden Belt. The
route runs every 17 minutes Monday through Saturday
and utilizes fuel - efficient hybrid diesel - electric buses.
For information about the route and bus schedule, visit:
goduairlhairnr Lira insir1: oir /Ig .)C. .
The fare -free Bull City Connector
While addressing the shortage of affordable housing, the City is also working to make sure the affordable
housing it provides is energy efficient and low maintenance. All affordable housing developed with City
funds is required to be SystemVisionT" and /or ENERGY STAR certified. These certifications mean that the
lower heating and cooling costs are guaranteed for twoyears. This is accomplished by a review of the
house plans, on -site inspections during construction, and certification at completion. Lower energy usage
benefits not only the environment, but also results in cost savings to the homeowner. Newer homes,
like those in the Southside community, are also built with more
durable, low- maintenance materials to reduce the overall cost of
home ownership and to reduce the total amount of materials that
reach the landfill overtime.
Parks bring community together and encourage healthy
living while providing spaces for connecting with the natural
environment and our neighbors. The City's Parks and Recreation
Department maintains 68 parks and 29 miles of trails throughout
Durham.
The second oldest park system in the state, Durham's public parks
preserve areas of natural, cultural, and historical significance. West
Point on the Eno is a heritage site featuringthe West Point Mill,
City of IDurharn 20!7 Sustainability Report
West Point on the Eno
tobacco barn, museum of photography, and blacksmith shop. Sandy Creek Park is a certified Monarch
Waystation, National Wildlife Federation Wildlife Habitat, and NC Native Plant Habitat. In order to
preserve, strengthen, and expand parks, trails, open
space, and recreational opportunities in Durham, the
City supports the Durham Parks Foundation which was
founded in 2016.
11'..' weir „rilr iinspairta -flain Choices
Access to a variety of transportation choices, including
walking, biking, and public transit is an important
component of a sustainable, livable community.
Biking and hiking is good for personal
health, environmental health, and lowers
street congestion. Grab a Durham bike and
hike map at durha_mnc_ ,&oyL403:1 and
hit the trails.
Encouraging diverse transportation choices can improve mobility for residents, employees, and visitors,
decrease household transportation costs, improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and
promote public health.
WALKING
The Durham City Council adopted the DurhamWalks! Pedestrian Plan in 2006 in order to assess and
prioritize infrastructure needs to make Durham more pedestrian friendly. The plan resulted in the
construction of more than 30 miles of sidewalks on key corridors. The Unified Development Ordinance
requires new sidewalks to be built along the street in front of new development and redevelopment
projects. As a result, there are now more than 575 miles of sidewalk. The City of Durham's Transportation
Department is developing the Durham Bike +Walk Plan in 2017, an update to the DurhamWalks! plan
focused on prioritizing critical corridors and accelerating the pace of sidewalk construction.
Green Lanes encourage safe bicycle commuting on
West Chapel Hill Street
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
BIKING
Durham currently has 40 miles of bike lanes,
a result of identifying opportunities to add
bicycle lanes during road resurfacing and new
construction projects. The Bike +Walk Plan
being developed will update the 2006 Durham
Comprehensive Bicycle Plan to identify critical
corridors for bicyclists and develop project
recommendations. In addition to investing in bike
lanes, the City supports a bike - friendly community
through continuous improvement of the trails and
greenway system, a focus on bicycle safety, and
plans to access the feasibility of implementing a
bike share system in Durham.
Daily public transit ridership in Durham is among the highest in the state. In 2016, Durham averaged 30
passengers per hour compared to 18.6 passengers per hour in our peer communities. From 2013 to 2016,
Durham has seen a 17% increase in the number of residents who live within % mile of a bus stop that
has service every 30 minutes. A quarter mile, or about a five minute walk, is generally accepted as the
distance most people are willing to walk to a public transit stop. The City has partnered with GoTriangle
to increase services and focus development around future light -rail transit stations to improve the public
transit network in Durham.
City of (Durham 20!7 Sustainability IReport
rlr' Iln III Ilr "t - III Iln 11'..')eirnaind Management
The City works with local and regional partners to reduce reliance on single- occupancy vehicles by
encouraging options such as carpooling, vanpooling, public transit, biking, walking, teleworking, and
flexible work weeks. As a region, in 2016, 4.6 million vehicle trips were avoided, 61 million commute
miles were reduced, and 2.6 million gallons of gas were saved. Additionally, the City recently installed
approximately 1,000 parking meters downtown to encourage visitors to access downtown by bus, foot,
and bike, help reduce congestion, and increase accessibility to shops and restaurants.
Green Infrastructure
Green infrastructure provides a cost - effective and resilient
way to help control for heavy rain and snow events in
urban areas, which tend to have high levels of impervious
surfaces (roads, sidewalks, buildings, parking lots, etc.). When
stormwater runs through gutters and storm drains, it comes
out directly into nearby creeks, streams, rivers and lakes,
carrying pollutants into our water from trash, bacteria, and
Residents and businesses can play an
important role in providing the extra
eyes, ears, and noses needed to help find
sources of pollution in our waterways.
Call 919 - 560 -SWIM to report any illegal
water pollution.
metals picked up in our urban environment. By mimicking
the natural water cycle, green infrastructure absorbs and cleans (filters) stormwater at its source, which
improves water health and prevents flooding. Planting trees, pollinator and rain gardens, installing
green roofs, restoring wetlands, and protecting vegetation buffers around waterways are all methods of
increasing green infrastructure in our urban environment.
Durham first became a Tree City USA in 1983, signaling the City's longstanding commitment to
maintaining, protecting, and improving the urban tree canopy. The City's 2016 canopy study showed that
Durham currently has 52% tree canopy. The City's Urban Forestry Division, Keep Durham Beautiful, and
the Sustainability Office have sought grants and volunteers to help plant over 3,000 trees since 2014,
given away thousands of tree seedlings, and offered Tree Care 101 workshops for residents interested in
learning about the benefits trees provide for our
water and air quality.
if llr°tlrm llr'lilln fair III : :)6lllllil na-t llr Gardens
Keep Durham Beautiful, a 501(c)3 nonprofit
organization supported by the City of Durham,
launched the Healthy Bee, Healthy Me Pollinator
Garden Program in 2016, establishing 12
pollinator gardens throughout Durham in
proximityto community gardens. The program
helps ensure the sustainability of nectar and
pollen sources for honey bees, native bees,
butterflies, and other pollinators throughout
io I City of (Durham 2017 Sustainability IReport
Keep Durham Beautiful Healthy Bee, Healthy Me Pollinator Garden
at Briggs Community Garden
the year, providing green infrastructure and an essential iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiillillillillillillilliillillillillismillipmmillievolipum
Through a pilot project funded by a Clean Water
drains — polluting our rivers, lakes, and
Management Trust Fund grant, the Department of Public
drinking water sources. Each gram of dog
Works, Division of Stormwater and CIS Services installed
waste contains 23 million fecal coliform
over 250 green infrastructure elements including rain
bacteria as well as nitrogen, both of
gardens, cisterns, trees and downspout disconnections in the
which can harm wildlife and human
South Ellerbe Creek Watershed. health. Help by scooping the poop
it's the law! To learn more, visit:
No Mow sign at Forest Hills Park
w du�rha_mnc. &ov/_75�i or call 919 - 560 -4326.
III,,,,' III'" Ilr' -------- - - - - --
The "No Mow" or
"Let it Grow" program is a collaboration between the City's
Department of Public Works, Division of Stormwater and
CIS Services, Water Management, and Parks and Recreation
departments. The signs remind grounds crews to allow native
plants to grow along the edges of creeks and streams. By allowing
stream buffers to return to natural habitat in City -owned parks,
stormwater pollutants are filtered by trees, grasses, shrubs and
other plants before entering the stream.
WA'F11:..:.]1Z 11 14 "'FIII °° II[;;I II[;;I IIII II III III I[;;I IIII°
Water is vital to life — we depend on clean water for drinking, cleaning, cooking, and recreation. A
healthy water system also provides habitat for fish and wildlife, prevents flooding, and filters pollution.
In an urban environment, pollution due to runoff from impervious surfaces, increased development,
and illicit discharges threaten the biological, chemical, and hydrological integrity of our
local waterways. Sources of pollution include neglected pet waste, oil and grass clippings entering storm
drains, and overflowing sanitary sewer pipes.
While the city -wide ecological health as measured by
turbidity levels and Water Quality Index (WQI) scores are
good, Durham has a high level of bacteria pollution in
many of our waterways that can create health concerns for
recreational users. The City monitors water quality, identifies
pollution sources, and implements watershed management
plans and educational programs to address watershed health
in Durham.
Watershed III Minim Ili prove llrnim llrn t I11 ::111 Ilan
Contribute to the health of our local
waterways byjoining the Adopt-A-
Stream program. Host a stream cleanup
or monitor a stream on a regular basis. To
learn more, visit: durhamnc.gov/947 or
call 919 - 560 -4326.
Watershed improvement plans have been created for five of Durham's priority urban watersheds to
assess the current watershed health, identify water quality problems, develop riparian area management
plans, and evaluate effective pollution control measures for point and non -point pollution sources. To
learn about the targeted plans for each watershed, visit: du.airlhairn ric.gov /9 ]I9.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
U I City of IDurharn 2017 Sustainability IReport
Stoinirnwateir Stair Celirti-fied 113usilin
r.
Natural Resource I11::1lir - tectii In
We all have a role to play in protecting and ensuring
clean water in Durham. The Stormwater STAR program
recognizes businesses committed to keeping our water
clean and showing their customers that they care. To
learn more about how to become Stormwater STAR
certified, visit: du.airlhairniinc.g.ov /"96.
......................................
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Natural resources provide many important ecosystem services including clean water and air, food
production, flood prevention, wildlife habitat, climate regulation, and cultural benefits. The City
protects natural resource areas through environmental protection standards adopted under the Unified
Development Ordinance; the acquisition, preservation, and restoration of Durham's open spaces; and a
focus on connectivity and access to natural resource areas for both human and wildlife health.
Natural Rlir it and lirminectii lit
The American Tobacco Trail is a 22.6 mile rails -to- trails projectthat runs
throughout Durham connecting Durham, Chatham, and Wake County
Durham currently has 8,476 acres of
open space (both privately and publically
owned), 1,800 of which is parkland
managed by the City's Parks and
Recreation Department. The Durham
Urban Open Space Plan identifies and
prioritizes properties with ecological and
community significance for acquisition
and conservation. The plan focuses on
connectivity and access for all residents
to parks, trails, and other open spaces
and also lays out policy and program
recommendations for both existing
and planned open spaces that would
enhance the biodiversity, habitat value,
and ecological integrity of the open space
system through sustainable design and
maintenance.
Durham has been widely celebrated for our economic transformation and revitalization over recent
decades, which has resulted in a robust local economy that strives to promote equitably shared
prosperity and access to quality jobs.
II,,,, iving Wage
A living wage is the income required for an individual to meet their own basic needs without public
or private assistance. The City of Durham has several policies in place to ensure that city workers, and
12 1 City of (Durham 2017 Sustainability IReport
those who contract with the City, receive a fair living wage. In 1998, the City passed the Livable Wage
Ordinance to guarantee that employees of contractors and subcontractors hired by the City receive at
least the minimum hourly wage paid to City employees. Additionally, the 2016 -2017 budget increased the
minimum wage for full -time city workers from $12.53 per hour to $13.35 per hour, $14.15 per hour for FY
2017 -2018 and $15 per hour for FY 2018 -2019.
II,,,, ocal Ilf;;lilrmilrnrm
Since 2008, Durham has attracted more than $2.28 billion in economic development growth, creating
more than 6,000 newjobs. In downtown specifically, the total number of employees has increased more
than 60% since 2003. In the last 20 years, over $1.2 billion dollars in public and private investments have
been made to support additional business, retail, and housing growth in Downtown Durham.
Durham consistently performs better than national and state averages in various economic performance
indicators:
1 As of December 2016, not adjusted for seasonality. 2As of December 2016.
lf;;l ilrm ilrnrm iil Il[.)eve l ll ilrnr ein-t Strategic 11::1111 Ilan
In 2015, the City and County published the City- County Economic Development Strategic Plan
that identified four strategic focus areas around which the economic development planning and
implementation process will be structured: Business Retention and Recruitment, Business - Friendly
Environment, Infrastructure, and Talent Development and Recruitment.
ilrllldair Il[.)evel ll ilrnr ein-t
Durham is committed to maintaining a
talented workforce with diverse skillsets
through various workforce readiness
programs. The Durham Workforce
Development Board (DWDB) in collaboration
with the City of Durham's Office of
Economic and Workforce Development
(OEWD), administers programs designed
to meet the workforce needs of businesses
and to prepare workers for high- demand, High school student, Isaiah Paige, learns about office work through his
high -pay careers by connecting them to Youth Works internship at the NCCU Juvenile Justice Department
technical training and assisting them with
placement and job retention. Through various partnerships and programs, including the NCWorks Career
Center and Durham YouthWork Internship Program (DYIP), the DWDB and OEWD provide a wide array of
employment and training programs, services, and resources to both jobseekers and employers.
13 1 City of (Durham 20!7 Sustainability IReport
The City recognizes that Durham's rich cultural heritage is an important part of what makes
our neighborhoods thrive, attracts tourism and business development, and brings together the
community. Durham supports a vibrant arts community, historic preservation, and social and cultural
diversity through policies, ordinances, economic incentives, and special events.
Arts and Iltu r
Durham Civil Rights Mural next
to the Durham Arts Council
Arts and culture play a significant role in sustainable development, community cohesion, youth
education, creative self - expression, economic development, and revitalization. Durham has a strong arts
community representing approximately 4.2% of all business in the county according to the Local Arts
Index.
The City and County adopted the Durham Cultural Master
Plan in 2004, which lays out strategies for strengthening
the arts and cultural sector. Currently, the City of Durham
is partnering with the Durham Arts Council to implement
the first phase of the 10 -year SmART Vision Plan focused
on creating three pedestrian corridors that connect cultural
landmarks in the heart of downtown through public art,
streetscaping, greenways, and wayfinding to create a more
cohesive, vibrant urban center.
II° °viii tairiii c 11::Ireseirvatiain
Every season, the City -owned Durham
Performing Arts Center (DPAC) attracts
hundreds of thousands of guests,
creating a significant boost to the local
economy. In the 2015 -2016 season, over
500,000 guests attended DPAC, adding
over $79 million to Durham's economy.
Efforts to protect, rehabilitate, restore and creatively reuse historically significant properties have been
vital to preserving Durham's unique character and charm amidst pressures of continual population
growth. Restoring and redeveloping properties not only safeguards our collective history, but also
14 1 City of (Durham 20!7 Sustainability Report
consumes less energy and materials than demolition and new construction and increases the economic
value of our downtown district and neighborhoods.
The City has been interested in preserving historic
resources in the community since the 1970s when the
first inventory of historically significant structures and
properties was completed. In 1989, the City Council
approved the Downtown Durham Local Historic
District and preservation plan.
The City- County Planning Department currently helps
to identify, protect, and promote historic resources
through the designation of local historic districts and
landmarks, establishment and support of the Historic
Preservation Commission, and nominating properties
and districts for the National Register of Historic
Places.
Social and Illtu r 111 I11'..' weir iirt
Right at the heart of downtown Durham,
Historic Parrish Street (also known as Black
Wall Street) represents Durham's history of
successful black -owned businesses dating back
to the 20th century.
In honor of the entrepreneurial spirit of the
area, The City of Durham's Office of Economic
and Workforce Development provides
incentives to help create, retain, and expand
businesses on Historic Parrish Street.
To learn more, visit: durhamnc.gov/510.
Arts and culture is one way to increase understanding and communications among people of diverse
backgrounds. Durham celebrates, respects, and represents the diverse social and cultural backgrounds in
the community by hosting public events that help tell Durham's story. The Durham Parks and Recreation
Department offers a wide variety of low -cost, family - friendly events such as the Durham Senior Games,
Bimbe Cultural Arts Festival, Durham Earth Day, Durham Latino Fiesta and Soccer Challenge, DisAble the
Label, and Kwanzaa Celebration.
Bimbe Cultural Arts Festival
15, 1 City of IDurharn 20!7 Sustainability IReport
The City is committed to equity, inclusion, and access to opportunity for all residents with a focus on
civic engagement, equitable access to City services, poverty prevention, and environmental justice.
Civic II[;;liirm iirn ein-t
The City's Strategic Plan and budgeting processes
involve multiple avenues for resident engagement
and input, including our annual Resident Satisfaction
Survey and several public hearings and presentations
related to the annual budget and Capital Improvement
Plan. Budget and Management Services (BMS)
intentionally and directly attempts to engage all
residents, including traditionally underrepresented
groups, through inclusive, context - sensitive, and
transparent decision - making processes. In 2017, BMS
started utilizing a budget prioritization tool and
received feedback from over 2,100 residents.
lf;; iin d ii iinm g 11 lornelessness fair Veterans
Residents are invited to serve on 24 boards,
committees, and commissions that address
various aspects of Durham's quality of life,
including environmental affairs, preserving
open spaces and trails, historic preservation,
and transportation choices. The City Clerk's
Office accepts applications year round for
vacant positions appointed by the Durham
City Council. To learn more, visit:
durhamnc_goyLB34 or call 919 - 560 -4166.
Following a two -year effort to help disabled veterans who have been homeless for a year or more,
Durham has been recognized by the federal government for effectively ending chronic veteran
homelessness. This achievement was made possible through a coordinated effort facilitated by the
Durham Homeless Services Advisory Committee, bringing together partners from across public and
private sectors, the federal government, and multiple non -profit homeless housing organizations. Within
two years, Durham has housed 305 formerly homeless veterans through unprecedented collaborative
efforts from the Durham VA Medical Center, Durham Housing Authority, City's Community Development
Department, and Durham County.
City Hall on the Go brings information and services to
residents
113ull City 11::::resh Start Initiative
City 11 4111 on the
Launched in 2016, City Hall on the Go is a mobile
unit that serves residents where they live, work,
and play, bringing City staff and services directly
to the community. The truck includes information
on services provided by City departments, internet
access for employment searches, access to paying
water utility bills, and sending online requests for
services to Durham One Call.
The Bull City Fresh Start Initiative is a collaborative effort between the Durham Police Department,
the Department of Community Development, Healing with CAARE Inc., and other stakeholders within
the community that aims to locate, offer assistance, and provide supplies and housing options for
Durham's homeless population. As part of this initiative, the City received grant funds to purchase
16 1 City of Durham 20!7 Sustainability IReport
130 Empowerment Coats, heavy duty sleeping bags that convert into a winter coat when needed, to
distribute throughout Durham.
1131r nfiel Ilf :)lire lir lien
During the 1990s, many areas of Durham, once bustling with activity were left vacant or underutilized
because they might be contaminated with pollutants. These types of sites are called brownfields. In
2006, the City received the first of three grants from the Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields
Assessment Program to help assess the pollution on sites ripe for redevelopment. This program,
administered through the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, focuses on removing some
of the barriers to the development of brownfield sites by paying the due - diligence costs that prospective
property buyers may not otherwise have been willing to risk. These grant funds, which total $1.2 million,
are used for environmental testing, conceptual work, planning, and other associated costs to focus on
blighted, underutilized properties in and around Northeast Central Durham. Redevelopment of these
Accessible Icon features active
wheelchair users
properties offers significant upside potential. Brownfield cleanup and
repurposing utilizes existing infrastructure, increases the local tax base,
provides job opportunities, promotes revitalization of the immediate
surrounding area, and improves and protects the environment and
public health.
Accessible Ill lin 11::Iroject
In 2016, community volunteers in partnership with the City's General
Services department installed 104 accessible icons at City -owned and
County -owned facilities, schools, private businesses, and churches.
This symbol of active wheelchair users highlights the new, inspired,
and more accurate representation of disabled persons who are willing
and able, powerful and valuable members of our community. To get
involved in this design activism initiative, visit: IhLLp: / /NtJly /?NdV RglL
i1::)6111ce Ilf; 111 lir° lii m m lii m° Ill,,,, 1113 M 11 lasain Officeir and II° °Ill lii 111 lnll tr Ih ° m lir
Safe and secure neighborhoods are fundamental to the quality of life and economic vitality of the City.
The City's Police Department recently added a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning
(LGBTQ) Liaison Officer and Hispanic Outreach Officer to its ranks to help ensure communities' needs
are addressed for all residents. These liaisons are creating a customized approach to helping the
Police Department bridge the gap between police and LGBTQ and Hispanic communities, promote
understanding, and breaking down the wall of mistrust. They also help to increase awareness of public
safety programs, resources, and methods. Liaisons will be a resource to victims of crime, including those
acts that are driven by prejudice.
One of the first communities in North Carolina to establish a Sustainability Office, Durham is often on
the leading edge when it comes to local government best practices and processes. Durham constantly
strives towards good governance, exemplary performance, and innovative, creative approaches to
community challenges. One of Durham's Strategic Plan goals is to be an "Innovative and High Performing
Organization." The Office of Performance and Innovation was created in 2016 to work alongside all 24
departments to help accomplish this goal by fostering a culture of innovation.
V7 I City of IDurharn 20!7 Sustainability IReport
fflo
113u l l City Wairl(place Ih a ll 111 In
The Sustainability Office, working with government and non -profit partners, launched the
Bull City Workplace Challenge in early 2017 to engage workplaces to assess their current
environmental policies and practices and improve them overtime. Any Durham business, non-
profit, or institution can participate in the program that includes energy conservation, water
conservation and quality, waste reduction, toxics reduction, transportation, and purchasing.
Participants have access to technical assistance and networking opportunities to help them
improve their environmental performance. To learn more, visit: 1BuIIIICiityWoirkf .2LaceClhaILILenge.coirni.
Sustahnability lf;;lliilirm
The City runs numerous environmental education programs to help students, residents, and businesses
become better stewards of our natural resources. Resources include presentations, curricula, contests,
tours, and videos. Topics range from water conservation and quality, recreation and nature, stormwater
management, litter prevention, recycling, tree care,
pollinator gardens, and basic energy education. To find out
more, visit: durhairnric.gov/268.
...........
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Innovation re a lirn
The City and County launched the Open
Durham data platform in 2015 to provide
an easy way for anyone to access Durham
In recognition of our commitment to designing and government data sets that could be put
implementing bold solutions to complex problems, Durham to good use by the private sector, non -
was selected as one of seven cities from around the world
in 2017 to be a member of the Bloomberg Philanthropies profits, researchers, and academics. To
learn more, visit: opendurharn.nc.L
Innovation Team Grant Project. With funding from - - - --
Bloomberg Philanthropies, the City will launch an in -house
innovation team out of the Office of Performance and Innovation to help develop new ways of
addressing community problems such as reducing poverty, violent crime, and providing a strongerfocus
on the economic vitality of residents who have been involved in the criminal justice system.
Durham has much to be proud of when it comes to recent accomplishments promoting environmental,
economic, and social sustainability. However, there are always opportunities for continued improvement.
Several upcoming projects and initiatives will help us make progress in becoming more sustainable.
ll,,,,llf;;lllf;;lllf;;; Ilf :Illrj't
The General Services Department is building the City's first two LEED Silver projects, the new Durham
Police Headquarters and Fire and EMS Station 17. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design) is a certification system for green buildings developed by the US Green Building Council. LEED
certification helps identify ways to reduce the impacts associated with constructing and operating
buildings, from the utilization of local and sustainable building materials, to thoughtful design that
enables natural lighting, to energy and water efficient appliances and processes. Notable sustainable
elements of the Police Headquarters will include sustainably harvested wood, a high efficiency HVAC
system using air - cooled chillers, and thermal insulated glazing to mitigate thermal loss. The Fire and EMS
Station plans to feature rooftop solar panels, an electric vehicle charging station, and water efficient
landscaping. Both buildings are expected to be completed in 2018.
is I City of (Durham 20!7 Sustai ability IReport
Rendition of new Durham Police Headquarters, one of the City's first two LEED projects expected to be
completed in 2018
11[)esil Ilan Ilf;;; lil tirlict
Design Districts for six areas around the future Durham - Orange Light Rail Transit system stations have
been proposed to redirect growth and focus redevelopment in a more compact, walkable, and mixed use
pattern.
Curbside Ilrnrnlpost llnn
With 28.5% of our waste stream made up of food waste and other compostable materials, according to
the Waste Characterization Study, the City, working with the State Department of Environmental Quality
(DEQ), has proposed a pilot program for the 2018 Fiscal Year that would incorporate curbside composting
of household food waste and biosolids using City yard waste containers.
City I11'..) u Ilrlh Ilrnrn Sustafinability 11:)I Ilrn
The information gathered through the STAR community
rating system will assist the City in developing a
comprehensive Sustainability Plan. This plan, which
will be developed through collaborative efforts
between the General Services Department, the City -
County Sustainability Office, and numerous other City
departments, as well as public input, will outline the
strategic path forward for further improving
sustainability in Durham.
19 I City of (Durham 2017 Sustainability Report
Let us know what youth ink is important
to address in the City of Durham
Sustainability Plan.
To learn more, visit: Greener Durham
at CireenerDurham.net.
MIR Carmirnwinity Ilrtlllfic "VIII In
-
The City is pursuing certification through the STAR Community Rating System, the nation's
lYJJ�
leading framework and certification program for local sustainability. STAR provides a
N transparent and data - driven approach to measuring municipal sustainability progress
�f�v, til'�tl
across social, economic, and environmental performance areas. This process will further
assist the City in assessing its current sustainability efforts, identifying opportunities for
growth, and developing feasible goals and strategies to integrate into the comprehensive
Sustainability Plan.
City I11'..) u Ilrlh Ilrnrn Sustafinability 11:)I Ilrn
The information gathered through the STAR community
rating system will assist the City in developing a
comprehensive Sustainability Plan. This plan, which
will be developed through collaborative efforts
between the General Services Department, the City -
County Sustainability Office, and numerous other City
departments, as well as public input, will outline the
strategic path forward for further improving
sustainability in Durham.
19 I City of (Durham 2017 Sustainability Report
Let us know what youth ink is important
to address in the City of Durham
Sustainability Plan.
To learn more, visit: Greener Durham
at CireenerDurham.net.
To learn more about the plans and sustainability initiatives referenced in this report,
visit: du irlhairn inc. ov/?68.
................................................
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
VA
NC Woody Biomass
"Nature's renewable energy!"
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/fore
stry /biomass.html
Extension Forestry
Campus Box 8008
NC State University
Raleigh, NC 27695 -8008
State University
N A &t State University
COOPERATIVE
VI EXTENSION
AIIIJIM Empowering People - Providing Solution,
Community Economic Profile:
Buncombe and Orange County Examples
In the southern United States, communities with increasing populations
and nearby forests may be able to consider using woody biomass to
generate energy. A variety of other factors must also be considered,
such as the price of existing energy sources, competing markets for
wood, community acceptance, and the economic availability of wood
resources. Many counties in North Carolina have forests in close
proximity to growing populations. To gain a better understanding of
the range of possibilities for economic availability and the local
economic impacts of using wood for energy, Buncombe and Orange
counties were selected for analysis in this community economic profile.
This document is for forestry professionals and county planners to
understand the Community Economic Profile and Analysis Process.
Buncombe County is in the
western region of North Carolina
in the French Broad River valley,
nestled between the Blue Ridge
and the Smoky Mountains.
Buncombe County prides itself
on living in harmony with nature
and acting locally to positively
impact the global environment.
Asheville, the county seat, is a
growing city with large arts and
retirement communities and
several colleges and universities.
Another heavily forested region,
Orange County, is located in the
rolling hills of the Piedmont
region in the north central part of
the state. Although the county is
located in the Raleigh- Durham
metropolitan area, only 10
percent of the land base has been
developed. Hillsborough, the
county seat, is a small
town located on the
Eno River, and the
city of Chapel Hill is
home to the
University of North
Carolina.
Buncombe and Orange Counties
are 62% and 59% forested,
respectively, and the larger
communities, such as Asheville,
Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and
Weaverville are nationally
recognized as Tree City USA
communities. According to the U.
S. Census Bureau (2007), both
Buncombe and Orange counties
have grown in population over the
past six years. Buncombe County's
population has grown by 7.7 %,
while Orange County has grown by
1.6 % (Table 1). Coal, natural gas,
and fuel oil are currently the major
sources of energy in both counties.
In fact, Progress Energy is
constructing a new facility in
Buncombe County that will supply
130 megawatts (MW) of energy
using an ultra low - sulfur fuel oil.
Table 1. Population Data for Selected NC Counties
2000
2006
Population
County
Pop.
Pop.
Growth
(2000 —2006)
Buncombe
206,330
222,174
7.7%
Orange
1 118,227
1 120,100
1 1.6%
Woody biomass from urban wood waste,
logging residues, and forest thinnings, for
example, can be used to generate energy.
Using wood to generate electricity provides
potential benefits such as reduced
greenhouse gas emissions, healthier forests,
and local jobs and other economic impacts.
To estimate the amount of wood that could
be available in a community, we include
three sources: urban wood waste, logging
residues, and pulpwood. While other woody
biomass resources exist and could be added
to the resource assessments, we include only
these resources, for which cost and supply
data are available. Urban wood waste is
generated from tree and yard trimmings, the
commercial tree care industry, road and
utility corridor clearings, and green space
maintenance. Logging residue is composed
of the leftovers from forest harvesting, such
as tree tops and limbs, and poorly formed
trees. Pulpwood refers to small diameter
trees (3.6 to 6.5 inches diameter at breast
height) that are harvested for manufacturing
paper, purified cellulose products (including
absorbents, filters, rayon, and acetate), and
oleoresin products (including pine oils,
fragrances, cosmetics, and thinners).
This profile sheet excludes secondary woody
waste from sawmills and furniture makers,
which is available but may already be used
within the industry to produce energy.
Economic factors, including fuel costs and
the creation of local jobs, are major
determinants of the feasibility of bioenergy
projects. Assessing the economic
availability of biomass requires learning
about the delivered cost of wood, the
quantity of available wood, and its
geographic distribution. This information is
then used to create biomass resource supply
curves, which express price per unit of
biomass at various levels of consumption.
The following summary assesses the
economic availability of wood resources for
Buncombe and Orange counties in North
Carolina.
Cost Calculations
The delivered cost of woody biomass to a
facility is the sum of the amount paid to buy
the wood from the original owner
(procurement), the harvest cost, and the
transportation cost. Although rail
transportation is common on facilities
located on major rail lines, woody biomass
is typically transported by truck (and that is
the convention used in this analysis). The
cost of transportation depends on the time it
takes a truck to travel from the harvest site
to the facility. A simpler analysis could
calculate transportation cost as a function of
distance rather than transportation time.
However, transportation costs per mile tend
to decrease as road infrastructure improves.
Haul times to the central delivery point in
each county are calculated using a software
program called ArcGIS Network Analyst
Extension (Figure 1).
Assuming that haulers drive the speed limit
on the quickest route available to them, we
calculate total transportation times for the
forested areas around the delivery point, and
then increase haul times (and thus costs) by
25% to account for delays, such as traffic
and stops. These haul -time procurement
zones delineate potential "woodsheds" or
areas that can provide wood for a specific
community or biomass user. If demand is
established in more than one area in
proximity, woodsheds can overlap, causing
competing demand for biomass.
The total delivered cost is derived from the
sum of the procurement, harvest, and
transportation costs for urban wood waste,
logging residues, and pulpwood. This is
calculated at 15- minute increments up to one
hour from each delivery point. Delivered
costs allow us to see the progression of the
2
Figure 1. Wood harvested within each colored band can be transported to the center of
each county in 15- minute increments.
most- to least- expensive woody biomass
resources. For example, if urban waste wood
were delivered within the one -hour limit, the
total delivered cost would be $19.46 per dry
ton, or $1.25 per million British thermal
units (MMBtu). However, if pulpwood were
delivered from the same distance, the
delivered cost would increase to $49.14 per
dry ton, or $3.04 per MMBtu, primarily
because pulpwood is more expensive than
urban wood waste.
Physical Availability
In addition to the delivered cost of wood,
knowing how much of each type of woody
biomass is available is necessary to
construct supply curves. Annually harvested
pulpwood and annually available urban
wood waste and logging residues within the
two NC counties are shown in Table 2.
For urban wood waste, it is assumed that
0.203 green tons (40% moisture content) of
urban wood waste is generated per person
per year (Wiltsee 1998). Urban wood waste
includes municipal solid waste wood from
yard
waste and tree trimming but excludes
industrial wood (e.g., cabinet and pallet
production) and construction and demolition
debris. This average yield was multiplied by
county population estimates and reduced by
40% to estimate total annual county yield of
urban wood waste. For example, in
Buncombe County, this results in 26,700
green tons of urban wood waste per year.
The amount of logging residue and
pulpwood for all counties in North Carolina
was obtained from the USDA Forest Service
(2003) Timber Product Output Reports.
This database provides forest inventory and
harvest information, including annual yields
of forest residues and pulpwood. We
reduced the figure for logging residues by
30% to exclude stumps. For example, in
Orange County, there are 22,700 green tons
(37% moisture) of logging residues
available annually from existing forestry
operations. There are also 6,400 green tons
(50% moisture) of pulpwood harvested
annually.
Moisture content refers to the amount of moisture remaining in wood and is an important consideration in the
quality of biomass resources. Moisture content is 0% in oven -dried biomass, about 20% for air -dried biomass, and
about 50% for fresh or "green" biomass. As the moisture content of wood increases, the energy content per unit
mass of wood will decreases. Thus, wood with low moisture content will combust more efficiently than wood with
high moisture content. Moisture content referred to in this document is reported on a green- weight basis.
3
Because the
pulpwood
harvest is
currently used
to produce pulp
and paper
products, not all
of this resource
Table 2. Three Sources of Available Wood (values in green tons)
is economically available for bioenergy.
However, additional biomass is available
from forest thinning, particularly those
conducted for ecosystem restoration, which
is not included in this assessment (Condon
and Putz 2007).
Supply Curve Construction
Given information regarding cost, quantity,
and distribution of all three types of woody
biomass, supply curves can be generated for
Buncombe and Orange counties.
Figure 2 shows the price of wood at
different quantities needed. The y -axis
represents price per MMBtu of energy and
the x -axis represents the total amount of
wood available in 15- minute increments.
Several scales are provided to translate the
quantity of wood into tons, energy content,
and houses electrified. Biomass sources
include urban wood waste, logging residues,
and pulpwood within a one -hour haul radius
of both county centers.
Table 3. Delivered Cost of Available Wood
Supply
Analysis
Results
Energy
resources
and costs for
each
resource -haul time category for the two
counties are shown in Table 3 (resources are
ranked from cheapest to most expensive
based on delivered cost of energy). These
values were used to construct the supply
curves shown in Figure 2. The supply curves
suggest that 2.0 and 3.9 trillion Btu, or 17
and 33 MW of electricity, which is enough
to power 6,800 and 13,300 households
(Bellemar 2003), are available for less than
$2.60 per MMBtu in the Buncombe and
Orange County woodsheds, respectively.
Energy at this cost is competitive with
current costs of coal.
Within a one -hour haul radius, up to 0.5 and
1.4 trillion Btu can be provided from urban
wood waste alone in Buncombe and Orange
County woodsheds, respectively. With the
addition of logging residues, 2.0 and 3.9
trillion Btu can be produced in the
Buncombe and Orange County woodsheds,
respectively. Other types of wood may be
Available
Available
Resource/Haul time category
(in minutes)
Buncombe County
urban
logging
Harvested
County
wood waste
residues
pulpwood
Buncombe
26,700
20,100
900
Orange
14,400
22,700
6,400
is economically available for bioenergy.
However, additional biomass is available
from forest thinning, particularly those
conducted for ecosystem restoration, which
is not included in this assessment (Condon
and Putz 2007).
Supply Curve Construction
Given information regarding cost, quantity,
and distribution of all three types of woody
biomass, supply curves can be generated for
Buncombe and Orange counties.
Figure 2 shows the price of wood at
different quantities needed. The y -axis
represents price per MMBtu of energy and
the x -axis represents the total amount of
wood available in 15- minute increments.
Several scales are provided to translate the
quantity of wood into tons, energy content,
and houses electrified. Biomass sources
include urban wood waste, logging residues,
and pulpwood within a one -hour haul radius
of both county centers.
Table 3. Delivered Cost of Available Wood
Supply
Analysis
Results
Energy
resources
and costs for
each
resource -haul time category for the two
counties are shown in Table 3 (resources are
ranked from cheapest to most expensive
based on delivered cost of energy). These
values were used to construct the supply
curves shown in Figure 2. The supply curves
suggest that 2.0 and 3.9 trillion Btu, or 17
and 33 MW of electricity, which is enough
to power 6,800 and 13,300 households
(Bellemar 2003), are available for less than
$2.60 per MMBtu in the Buncombe and
Orange County woodsheds, respectively.
Energy at this cost is competitive with
current costs of coal.
Within a one -hour haul radius, up to 0.5 and
1.4 trillion Btu can be provided from urban
wood waste alone in Buncombe and Orange
County woodsheds, respectively. With the
addition of logging residues, 2.0 and 3.9
trillion Btu can be produced in the
Buncombe and Orange County woodsheds,
respectively. Other types of wood may be
11
Trillion Btu available per year
within a one -hour haul radius
Delivered cost
($ /MMBtu),
Resource/Haul time category
(in minutes)
Buncombe County
Orange County
$0.65
Urban wood: 0 -15
0.04
0.04
$0.85
Urban wood: 15 -30
0.13
0.27
$1.05
Urban wood: 30 -45
0.15
0.46
$1.25
Urban wood: 45 -60
0.17
0.67
$2.03
Logging residues: 0 -15
0.03
0.07
$2.21
Logging residues: 15 -30
0.15
0.38
$2.39
Logging residues: 30 -45
0.48
0.79
$2.56
Pulpwood: 0 -15
0.00
0.02
$2.57
Logging residues: 45 -60
0.83
1.17
$2.72
Pulpwood: 15 -30
0.07
0.18
$2.88
Pulpwood: 30 -45
0.58
0.50
$3.04
Pulpwood: 45 -60
1.05
0.82
11
available from thinnings to improve forest
health, although this resource was not
quantified for this analysis. As the cost of oil
increases, all price estimates increase (with
petroleum inputs for harvesting and
transportation), but so do the costs of coal
and natural gas. In other words, as fossil
fuels become more expensive, the delivered
cost of wood will increase but will become
increasingly competitive with nonrenewable
fuels.
Economic Impact Analysis
The potential economic impacts of
developing a wood - fueled power plant are
an important consideration for both public
and private interests in a community. In this
economic analysis, two sizes of power plant
were considered: 20 or 40 MW. The
construction of the plant would be a one-
time impact event that is assumed to occur
within a year, while the impacts of plant
operations continue annually over the life of
the plant, for 20 years or more. Wood fuel
costs were calculated from the regional
supply curves discussed previously in this
report. Economic impacts were estimated
using IMPLAN software and databases for
each county. These estimates included not
only the direct impacts of plant construction
and operation but also the indirect impacts
from local purchases and local spending by
employee households. Economic impacts
were evaluated for Buncombe and Orange
counties in North Carolina. Fuel typically
represented the largest operating cost for a
wood -fired power plant. Fuel costs averaged
$3.3 and $8.4 million annually for the 20 or
40 MW plants, respectively, however, costs
ranged from $7.4 to $9.4 million for the 40
MW plant, due to differences in availability
of forest and wood waste resources, as well
as transportation infrastructure in these
counties (Table 4). Fuel costs were lower in
Orange County than in Buncombe County.
The economic impacts of plant construction
0
$3,00 —
.,
w
J rtRmmmrt WWWWWW�
$2,00 nv> t � %�r iJ�i /llJ /t it r i %llfi ii / %llli ii /; �ry
/Or/ /// / / /%/ 0/ .. At tlgd om C" III "
t. 1r
$0,50
0 1 2 3 4 5Trfilllom IIST s Per Year
0 110 20 3,01 40 Mie0 m s
0 50,000 1 DUO 150,000 200,000 260,1000 3001001 3,50,000 Dry sme ar
3 51,1001 11D,0010 15,000 201.01807 25,O DO Tirudioad9year
�....
6,000 10,0010 16,0010 me p0moereWyear
Figure 2. Supply curves for woody biomass indicate the cost and quantity of wood
at 15- minute hauling intervals.
5
and operations varied widely between these
counties due to differences in the specific
makeup of the local economy. The total
annual operating impacts (first year) for a 20
MW plant ranged from $10.8 to $12.8
million in output (revenue), 177 to 242 jobs,
and $6.9 to $7.6 million in value added
(income). Total operating impacts for a 40
MW plant ranged from $22.1 to $26.7
million in output, 393 to 546 jobs, and $14.1
to $15.8 million in value added. The first
year impacts for plant operations are
representative of the ongoing annual
impacts; however, future impacts could
change due to prices of inputs such as fuel,
unexpected maintenance activities, and
general economic inflation.
Total construction costs were valued at
$48.7 million for the 20 MW plant and
$86.8 million for the 40 MW plant,
including land, site work, construction, plant
equipment, and engineering fees. Local
construction impacts differed dramatically
for these two counties. Construction impacts
for a 20 MW plant ranged from $7.9 to
$45.3 million in output, 74 to 379 jobs, and
$3.9 to $26.0 million in value added.
Construction impacts for the 40 MW plant
ranged from $10.7 to $78.7 million in
output, 98 to 653 jobs, and $5.1 to $44.9
million in value added. The significantly
higher construction impacts in Orange
Table 4. Economic Impacts of 20 and 40 MW Power Plants
County reflect the presence of manu-
facturing industries for boilers and turbines,
key components for power plants. This
results in greater impacts as more money
would be retained in the local economy.
Prediction of the distribution of economic
impacts across various sectors of the local
economy is possible. More than 60% of all
jobs would occur in the agriculture and
forestry sector, which supplies wood fuel to
these facilities. There would also be
significant employment impacts in the
sectors for professional services, retail trade,
and government sectors, reflecting the
indirect effects on the local economy
associated with purchased supplies and
employee household spending.
Conclusions
Economic concerns are important to
discussions of using wood for energy in the
South. For many communities, the
conversation begins with the recognition
that there is enough wood at an affordable
cost. Our supply analysis suggests that,
indeed, enough wood at a reasonable cost is
available in Buncombe and Orange counties
to make a continued conversation possible.
2.0 and 3.9 trillion Btu (i.e., 17 and 33 MW
or energy to power 6,800 and 13,300 homes
annually) of woody biomass are available at
less than $2.60 per MMBW in Buncombe
North
Carolina
County
Wood
Fuel
Cost
($Million)
Annual Operations Impacts (first
year)
Plant Construction Impact
Output
($Millions)
Employment
(Jobs)
Value
Added
($Millions)
Output
($Millions)
Employment
(Jobs)
Value
Added
($millions)
20 MW
Buncombe
3.74
12.84
242
7.59
7.89
74
3.90
Orange
2.88
10.81
177
6.91
45.27
379
25.95
Average
3.31
11.82
210
7.25
26.58
227
14.92
40 MW
Buncombe
9.37
26.65
546
15.77
10.72
98
5.06
Orange
7.35
22.08
393
14.07
78.73
653
44.88
Average
8.37
24.36
470
14.92
44.73
376
24.97
and Orange counties, respectively. These
general estimates could be improved with
more site - specific analysis and information
Additional assessments of local conditions,
population density, distribution of wood,
competition from pulp mills, restoration
activities, and other factors would improve
the accuracy of these biomass resource
assessments. The following caveats should
be considered when interpreting the results
presented in this profile:
• The supply considered in this profile
includes only urban wood waste, logging
residues, and pulpwood. It excludes stumps
and waste from wood industries.
• Because only county -level data were
available, homogeneous distribution of
resources within counties is assumed.
Resource distribution within counties and
location of bioenergy generating facilities
will influence the actual economic
availability of woody biomass suitable for
energy generation. More detailed local
analysis might consider the distribution of
biomass resources within counties,
especially for site selection of bioenergy
facilities.
• The inclusion of other resources such as
mill wastes or thinnings from forest
management and habitat restoration would
increase available resources.
• This analysis is not intended to be a
definitive resource assessment but is rather
meant to provide a starting point for
discussions about the feasibility of using
wood for energy. Resources can be excluded
or added as more information becomes
available, and prices can be modified to
reflect local conditions.
• A rise in the price of petroleum would
increase the cost of the resources shown here,
as well as costs of conventional energy
sources like coal.
• Some assumptions made in this analysis
are subject to change. For example, large -
scale bioenergy development in the area
could increase competing demand for wood
resources.
• Rail transportation, which could
substantially reduce transportation costs and
increase the procurement area for biomass
resources, was not considered in this
analysis.
• Construction and operation of wood - fueled
power plants may have significant local
economic impacts. These impacts vary
widely among selected counties, depending
upon the makeup of the local economy.
• Wood fuel represents one of the largest
expenditures for a power plant and gives rise
to large impacts in the local forestry and
forestry services sectors. Other sectors of the
local economy are also impacted through the
indirect effects associated with purchased
supplies and employee household spending.
• Economic impacts of a 40 MW power plant
are greater than for a 20 MW plant, although
not in proportion to the power output, due to
economies of scale. For more information
about using wood to produce energy, visit
121t. : / /www.iri erfacesouitli.or /wood biomass
and read other fact sheets, community
economic profiles, and case studies from this
program, or I tt : / /www.forestbioerier riet/
to access a number of other resources.
7
References
Bellemar, D. 2003. What Is a Megawatt?
http: // www. utilipoint .com /issuealert/article.asp ?id =1728 (accessed July 13, 2006).
Condon, B. and F. E. Putz. 2007. Countering the Broadleaf Invasion: Financial and Carbon
Consequences of Removing Hardwoods During Longleaf Pine Savanna Restoration.
Restoration Ecology 5:2. In press.
North Carolina Forestry Association. 2007. Forest products industry emerges as North Carolina's
largest manufacturing industry. Press Release.
http: // www. ncforestry .org /docs /Latest %20News /releases /releasesindex.htm (accessed April
9, 2007).
U.S. Census Bureau. 2007. http: / /www.census.gov/ (accessed March 29, 2007).
USDA Forest Service. 2006. Forest Inventory and Analysis Factsheet North Carolina 2002.
Asheville NC: USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station. http://srsfi
a2.fs.fed.us /states /nc /NCFACT %7E1.PDF (accessed April 9, 2007).
USDA Forest Service. 2003. Forest Inventory and Analysis. Timber Product Output (TPO)
Reports. Asheville, NC: USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station. http://srsfi
a2.fs.fed.us /php /tpo2 /tpo.php (accessed November 15, 2006).
Wiltsee, G. 1998.Urban wood waste resource assessment. National Renewable Energy
Laboratory, Golden, CO
Authors
Matthew Langholtz, Postdoctoral Research Associate [1]
Douglas R. Carter, Associate Professor [1]
Alan W. Hodges, Associate -In [2]
Annie Oxarart, Outreach Research Associate [1]
Richard Schroeder, President [3]
[1] School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville FL
[2] Food and Resource Economics, University of Florida, Gainesville FL
[3] BioResource Management, Inc., Gainesville FL.
Prepared by
James Jeuck, Extension Associate, Forestry & Environmental Resources, NC State University
www.ces.ncsu.edu /forestry /biomass.html
Published by North Carolina Cooperative Extension
C 0 t 1 IE GE 0F:
III :M . I „ ,.,� u , IL II u� ,m S '.: ICE �N �, I�� S
�A C A, W o E NW S a R E " N� A ri C H - Iii x "Ir IE N S 11 I "DI N
1632630 M =1
Distributed in furtherance of the ads of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. North Carolina State University and North Carolina A &T State University commit themselves
to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status or disability. In addition, the two Universities
welcome all persons without regard to sexual orientation. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A &T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local
WB- 0004/2008 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of or per copy.