TITLE: Title
Energy and Climate Action Planning Task Force Report
PURPOSE: The purpose of this item is for the Energy and Climate Action Planning Task Force to present its recommendations.
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DEPARTMENT: Planning
CONTACT INFORMATION: Randy Dodd, 919 918-7326
INFORMATION: At the May 27, 2014 meeting, the Board of Aldermen created a temporary Energy and Climate Protection Planning Task Force charged with supporting the Town with community planning and resiliency. The Task Force was asked to prepare a report to submit to the Board of Aldermen in June, 2015 that addressed:
a. Recommendations for new actions the Town can pursue to reduce nonrenewable energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from residential and commercial buildings in Carrboro
b. Recommendations for new actions the Town can pursue to reduce nonrenewable energy use associated with transportation in Carrboro
c. Recommendations for new actions the Town can pursue to promote renewable energy in Carrboro
d. Recommendations for new actions the Town can pursue to better manage vegetation, soil, and impervious surfaces to capture carbon, reduce energy use in buildings, mitigate the heat island effect, and reduce stormwater runoff, and
e. Any other recommendations the Task Force wished to proposed.
Using information from the advisory board 2014 fall forum series reports as a starting point, the Task Force has been deliberating in 2014 and 2015, and has prepared a draft report and recommendations. The Task Force is seeking Board review of the draft report, feedback and direction toward its completion, and authorization to extend its term until the fall of 2015 to finalize the report.
The preparation of this report, designed as a companion document to the Energy and Climate Protection Plan, adopted in May of 2014, which focuses on Town operations, is a major step toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions community-wide. Perhaps more important, the plans provide the Town with the opportunity to "lead by example" not only through local programs but also by creating synergies with other plans and policies that do not traditionally have a climate protection component, but would be greatly improved with one.
FISCAL & STAFF IMPACT: There is no fiscal and staff impact associated with accepting this report
RECOMMENDATION:r Staff recommends that the Board receive the report, provide the Task Force with feedback to assist with its preparation of a final report, and extend the term of the Task Force to allow for a target date of completion in the fall of 2015.