AGENDA #7
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Joyce Brown, Council Member and Chair of the Chapel Hill Million Solar Roofs Initiative Steering Committee
SUBJECT: Presentation of the Chapel Hill Million Solar Roofs Action Plan
DATE: June 25, 2001
The Chapel Hill Million Solar Roofs Initiative Steering Committee tonight submits for the Town Council’s consideration the Million Solar Roofs Action Plan. The Action Plan provides recommendations that will help achieve the Council’s goal of 500 solar energy systems installed on area buildings by 2010.
The Town of Chapel Hill is one of more than 50 communities participating in the Million Solar Roofs Initiative, a federal program created with the goal of fostering the installation of solar energy systems on one million buildings nationwide by 2010.
In April 2000, the Town Council adopted a resolution declaring the Town’s participation in the Solar Roofs Initiative and establishing a goal of 500 solar energy systems to be installed locally by 2010 (please see Attachment 1).
In November 2000, the Town Council appointed 20 area residents to the Chapel Hill Million Solar Roofs Initiative Steering Committee. Members include solar installers, architects, citizens interested and active in promoting renewable energy, and University officials. The County Commissioners, Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools, and the Cooperative Extension Office and the Economic Development Corporation also have representatives on the Committee.
The April resolution charged the Steering Committee to do the following:
· Assess the community's needs and programs that would be most suitable for meeting those needs, as well as available resources and existing barriers to solar development.
· Develop a draft Action Plan for Council consideration.
· Implement and monitor the Action Plan.
· Report to the Council quarterly for one year.
The Committee met monthly at the Chapel Hill Public Library beginning in December and concluding this month. Members worked together on all facets of the Plan, including conducting a survey of existing solar energy systems in the area, as well as developing a list of barriers and opportunities, goals and objectives, strategies and implementation recommendations.
A temporary staff support person was hired to assist the Committee using $6,000 committed by the Council for that purpose. She assisted the Committee and Planning Department in developing the Action Plan. Staff members from the North Carolina Solar Center, in Raleigh, helped coordinate the development of the Action Plan, as well as organize and plan each Committee meeting.
The Committee’s survey of area installations determined that there are more than 100 buildings in Orange County that employ some type of solar technology, such as photovoltaic or hot water panels. It is unclear how many of these systems would meet the Initiative’s criteria, such as installation date and type of system, and count toward the local 500-system goal.
One of the issues for the Committee in developing the Action Plan was deciding on the geographic scope of the 500-system goal. The Plan suggests that the goal apply Countywide, with optional participation in the Initiative by Orange County, Carrboro, and Hillsborough.
The following are some of the major recommendations of the Plan:
· Provide a solar resource center at the Planning Department, Library and other appropriate sites.
· Request designers and builders using renewable and green energy technologies contact the local Home Builders Association and show a home in the annual “Parade of Homes” tour.
· Establish a design contest with the goal of producing a model demonstrating how to incorporate solar technologies in an affordable housing project.
· Adopt sustainability goals and measures regarding renewable and green energy technologies for Chapel Hill. These renewable and green sustainability goals and measures should be reflected in budgets, procurement policies and in the construction and renovation of government buildings and other capital projects.
· Continue to fund energy efficiency projects for Town facilities. The money could be used in conjunction with grants, as was the case with the Hargraves Center solar collectors project.
· Compile and publish a list of equipment, companies, contractors, architect and case studies regarding solar power using the N.C. Solar Center as a resource. Make the list available on web site, skills development center, library, and Planning Department.
· Recommend that the Council form an ongoing energy committee that will start an ongoing dialog with energy providers and will also examine the Town’s energy use.
· Press Utilities Commission and Deregulation Committee to explore opportunities by local government to purchase “green” power.
Tonight’s meeting concludes the first major task of the Committee as charged by the Town Council – the completion of the Million Solar Roofs Action Plan. We hope that the Council will accept the report and refer it to the Manager for recommendations as to how the Action Plan could be implemented.
The Committee has discussed continuing to meet in order to fulfill the Council’s charge to monitor the Plan’s implementation and report quarterly to the Council for one year.