HomeMy WebLinkAboutCFE Meeting Summary 08082022 Orange County Commission for the Environment
Meeting Summary
August S, 2022; 7:00 pm
Hybrid Meeting
Present: Kim Piracci, Kim Livingston, Bill Ward, Veronica Penn Beattie (via Zoom),
Jessie Birckhead, Jaya Nair(via Zoom), Ian Morse, Reade Oakley(via Zoom),
Jane Harris, Elizabeth McWhorter
Absent: Carrie Fletcher, Kristie Mather(excused)
Staff: Wesley Poole, Chris Himi (via Zoom), Amy Eckberg(via Zoom), Kalani Allen
I. Call to Order
Kim Piracci called the meeting to order at 7:03 pm.
II. Additions or Changes to Agenda
None.
III. Approval of DRAFT Meeting Summary—June 13', 2022
Motion by Bill Ward; seconded by Veronica Penn Beattie; all in favor; none opposed;
motion passed.
IV. Orange County Residential Solar—Action Item
Jessie Birckhead presented a DRAFT letter to the BOCC from the CFE regarding
Piedmont Electric Cooperative's solar credit distribution in Orange County. The letter
was in response to an e-mail from resident David Rust to the BOCC on April 29, 2022,
from which the BOCC requested the CFE to discuss the citizen concerns and provide
feedback to them. At the June 13, 2022 CFE meeting, Amy Eckberg provided a
presentation on Mr. Rust's two primary requests: 1. BOCC assistance for solar adoption
by households and businesses, and 2. a modification to the PEMC net metering credit
rate. The CFE reached out to PEMC to request information from their staff on their
current policies and procedures and Susan Cashion in PEMC's Compliance and
Administrative Office responded with a very helpful document titled"Benefits of Solar
Generation for Piedmont Electric Cooperative Residential Members." The CFE came to
the conclusion that they would encourage the BOCC to continue its support of solar in
the County but it would not be appropriate for the BOCC to request changes to PEMC's
current rate structure. Motion by Bill Ward to send the letter as drafted to the BOCC
along with Susan Cashion's attachment; seconded by Kim Livingston; all in favor; none
opposed; motion passed.
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Orange County Commission for the Environment
Meeting Summary
August S, 2022; 7:00 pm
Hybrid Meeting
V. Current CFE Vacancies and Applicants—Action Item
There are currently 3 vacancies within the CFE that need to be filled. Carrie Fletcher in
Position#8 has also previously expressed an interest in resigning from the CFE and has
not been at the last 3 consecutive meetings (August 8th meeting will make 4), but has not
turned in resignation paperwork despite claiming to do so. Kim Piracci would like to
make a recommendation to the BOCC to officially remove her and hold the position open
in hopes of recruiting a more diverse candidate. The CFE went through the applicants
one by one and decided which candidate would fit each open position the best. Mark
Randall was chosen for Position#12 (Engineering), Geneva Gray for Position#2 (Air
Quality), and Regina Baratta for Position#13 (At Large). Motion by Jessie Birckhead to
make the applicant recommendations as such to the BOCC and hold Position#8 open in
hopes of recruiting a more diverse candidate; seconded by Ian Morse; all in favor; none
opposed; motion passed.
VI. Community Climate Action Grant Review—Action Item
Amy Eckberg notified the CFE that the deadline for submitting applications for the
Community Climate Action Grant doesn't close until August 19th. Veronica Penn Beattie
followed up and informed the CFE that they have 3 options to go about reviewing/
ranking the upcoming projects: 1. conduct during regular meetings, 2. conduct a special
meeting, or 3. form a subcommittee. Jessie Birckhead offered to put together a Google
Doc to assist with review of applications. Amy Eckberg will forward applications to
CFE members as soon as she receives them and organizes for distribution. The
expectation is for all members to understand the scoring sheet by the next CFE meeting
on September 121h, conduct reviews on their own in the meantime, and be ready to
discuss/rank at the following meeting on October I Oth. If needed, a special meeting can
be held on October 17th to complete. Motion by Jessie Birckhead to hold a special
meeting on October 17th if needed; seconded by Veronica Penn Beattie; all in favor; none
opposed; motion passed.
VII. Committee Breakouts
Meeting was behind schedule so the CFE chose to not break out into committee
assignments.
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Orange County Commission for the Environment
Meeting Summary
August S, 2022; 7:00 pm
Hybrid Meeting
VIII. Updates and Information Items
- Veronica Penn Beattie proposed that, moving forward, the CFE needed to keep
minutes during Committee Breakouts and provide a summary to the group once they
come back together so that everyone is aware of what is going on.
- Amy Eckberg updated the CFE on the status of the Solarize the Triangle campaign
and noted there would be a kickoff celebration event on August 10th from 6-8PM at
the Museum of Art in Raleigh. She then gave an update on the Orange County
Climate Action Plan and its purpose.
- Ian Morse inquired about the new CFE applicant appointment process and Wesley
Poole explained how it will go.
- Amy Eckberg informed the CFE that she would be getting a UNC intern soon by the
name of Max Feldman and she hoped to bring him to some CFE meetings.
IX. Adjournment
Kim Livingston motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:54 pm; seconded by Jane Harris; all
in favor: none opposed; motion passed.
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