HomeMy WebLinkAboutCFE Meeting Notes 03082021 Orange County Commission for the Environment
Meeting Summary
March 8, 2021; 7:30 pm
virtual Go To Meeting
Present: Kim Piracci (Acting Chair), Jaya Nair, Elizabeth McWhorter, Frank Binkowski,
Kim Livingston, Bill Ward, Carrie Fletcher, Bradley Saul, Alan Parry, James
Eichel, Eric Scheier
Absent: Jeremy Marzuola(excused)
I. Call to Order
Piracci called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm.
II. Additions or Changes to Agenda
Kim Piracci motioned to approve previous meeting minutes before changes to Agenda
moving forward; none opposed. Piracci also proposed changing the Agenda to move an
item under VII. Updates to occur after item V. Eno New Hope Landscape
Conservation Plan, and before VI. Committee Breakouts, due to suspected need for
further conversation; none opposed.
III. Approval of Draft Minutes from February 811, 2021
Motion by Saul; seconded by Livingston; all in favor, none opposed; motion passed.
IV. CFE Activities—2021
B. Saul stated no update to the Rights of Way group although some progress being made.
B. Saul also noted that the Forest Management Policy would be discussed in breakout
session. B. Bouma provided a brief update regarding LEED certification.
V. Eno New Hope Landscape Conservation Plan
K. Livingston presented a summary of the Eno New Hope Landscape Conservation Plan.
Noting 7 new CFE members whom were not present at last presentation at March 2020
meeting. Livingston then proposed the CFE draft and sign a Resolution of Support for the
ENHLC Plan. She proposed the CFE support to educate the Orange County Planning
Board and BOCC to the Plan and its implications and ultimately propose a Resolution of
Support to the BOCC for the ENLHC Plan.
VI. SELC/Clean Air Carolina petition
B. Bouma presented information about a petition written by the Southern Environmental
Law Center for Clean Air Carolina and the NC Coastal Federation. The petition asks the
State Environmental Management Commission to support the Regional Greenhouse Gas
Initiative, also known as RGGI or Reggie, which is a cap and trade market based, CO2
emissions reduction program which targets electric power plants. Bill Ward commented
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Orange County Commission for the Environment
Meeting Summary
March 8, 2021; 7:30 pm
virtual Go To Meeting
and discussed support for the petition, and has drafted a resolution for future
consideration of the CFE to send to the BOCC. K. Piracci commented that some research
casts doubts on the effectiveness of the program. Further, there are concerns that the
trading of CO2 allows some electricity plants to actually increase their CO2 output,
which usually affects the most disadvantaged communities.
VII. Updates and Information Items
K. Livingston presented information on the Buckhorn Area Plan, a joint project between
Orange County Planning, City of Mebane, and Piedmont Triad Regional Council group
to explore opportunities for industrial/commercial growth and rezoning, and the
possibility to annex the area to City of Mebane's planning jurisdiction.
VIII. Committee Breakouts
The CFE broke out into their individual subcommittees for discussions on previous goals
and accomplishments and to set goals for the coming year. Land Resources Committee,
Water Resources Committee, and Air/Energy Committee.
IX. Adjournment
Livingston motioned to adjourn the meeting at 9:02 pm; seconded by Parry; none
opposed; motion passed.
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