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Update on Municipal Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions and Decarbonization Goals
PURPOSE: This agenda item provides an update on the Town’s progress towards the climate action goal to reduce municipal greenhouse gas emissions by 80% from a 2010 baseline by 2030.
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Department
DEPARTMENT: Climate Action
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Council Direction
COUNCIL DIRECTION:
_X__ Race/Equity __X__ Climate __X__ Comprehensive Plan ____Other
Council Direction Statement
Reducing municipal greenhouse gas emissions aligns with several of the Town Council’s strategic objectives. The Carrboro Connects Comprehensive Plan (Carrboro Connects Comprehensive Plan | Carrboro, NC - Official Website <https://www.carrboronc.gov/2389/Carrboro-Connects-Comprehensive-Plan>) was developed with the foundational themes of race and equity and climate action. Chapter four of the Comprehensive Plan calls for a bold and ambitious climate action goal to reduce municipal greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2030 from a 2010 baseline. Chapter ten includes initiatives to increase the energy efficiency of municipal buildings and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions due to municipal fleet operations.
In addition, the Community Climate Action Plan (Community-Climate-Action-Plan---Updated-Oct-2020 <https://www.carrboronc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8961/Community-Climate-Action-Plan---Updated-Oct-2020>) recommends performing energy audits on municipal buildings, adding solar to municipal buildings, and electrifying the Town fleet.
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Information
INFORMATION: Carrboro remains a statewide leader in climate action, guided by the Carrboro Connects Comprehensive Plan and its ambitious target to reduce emissions by 80% (from a 2010 baseline). This report details progress regarding municipal operations; a subsequent report will address community-wide emissions.
Current Inventory and Progress
The Town tracks Scope 1 and 2 emissions to guide policy and fiscal decision-making. Since 2010, the Town has successfully reduced municipal emissions by 25%.
• Buildings & Infrastructure: Emissions from municipal buildings, signals, and streetlights have declined significantly due to strategic investments and the technical expertise of Town staff, particularly within Public Works.
• Vehicle Fleet: This remains the Town’s largest emissions source and has seen a slight increase since 2010.
Funded Projects and Future Strategy
To continue this momentum, the Town is currently executing several funded initiatives:
• Transitioning the fleet to Zero-Emission Vehicles (ZEV) and expanding charging infrastructure.
• Conducting energy audits to prioritize efficiency retrofits and solar installations.
• Upgrading sports field lighting to energy-efficient systems.
While progress is substantial, achieving an 80% reduction by 2030 presents significant challenges. The Town’s ability to meet the original deadline is limited by external factors-specifically Duke Energy’s grid transition timelines and the delayed availability of suitable medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles-as well as internal factors, such as the opening of the 203 Greensboro St. (Drakeford) building, which adds to municipal emissions despite its energy-efficient design.
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Fiscal and Staff Impact
FISCAL IMPACT:
There are no fiscal impacts associated with this informational item.
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Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that council receive the staff report.
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