Planning, Economic Development and Environment Committee (Virtual) (Jan 20, 2026)

Meeting Overview The City of Asheville’s Planning, Economic Development and Environment Committee held a virtual meeting on January 20, 2026. The agenda focused on three primary areas: the allocation of federal disaster recovery funds for small businesses, the development of community resilience hubs, and the city’s response to Duke Energy’s proposed carbon plan.

Key Decisions The committee unanimously approved the minutes from its December 16, 2025 meeting. Regarding the CDBG-DR Small Business Support Program, the committee voted to recommend that City Council authorize agreements with four subrecipient partners: Mountain BizWorks, Venture Asheville, Arts AVL, and Eagle Market Streets Development Corporation. These organizations will distribute $15.5 million in direct business support, with additional funds allocated for planning, mitigation, and administrative costs. Finally, the committee voted to pass a recommendation to work with Buncombe County as an intervener in Duke Energy’s Carbon Plan Integrated Resource Plan (CPIRP) filing with the North Carolina Utilities Commission.

Discussion Highlights Staff presented details on the Small Business Support Program, explaining that five applications were received in response to a funding opportunity issued in October 2025. The committee reviewed the evaluation criteria and the panel’s scoring, which prioritized responsiveness, efficiency, and strategic impact. The recommendation excludes Institute Capital (ICAP) from funding through this specific program, with staff encouraging the organization to seek other opportunities.

The committee also heard an introduction to the "Explore Resilience Hubs" Organizational Work Plan. This initiative aims to create a connected, community-led network of facilities that support residents before, during, and after emergencies. The discussion centered on integrating these hubs into the city’s broader climate action strategy, leveraging existing infrastructure, and clarifying the city’s role in supporting these spaces.

Regarding the CPIRP, staff outlined the city’s concerns with Duke Energy’s proposed plan, which includes increased natural gas generation, delayed coal retirement, and reduced solar buildout. The committee discussed the importance of formally intervening in the state regulatory process to advocate for a more aggressive transition to renewable energy, aligning with the city’s Municipal Climate Action Plan.

Community Input One member of the public, Rachel Cohen of Sunrise Movement WNC, spoke during the public comment period. She emphasized the importance of expediting funding for resilience hubs and urged the committee to clearly oppose Duke Energy’s current plans, citing concerns about profit-driven decisions and delayed renewable energy transitions. The transcript summary does not report any specific responses from committee members to her comments.

Follow-ups Staff agreed to collaborate with Buncombe County to finalize comments on Duke Energy’s CPIRP, with a goal of submitting them to the North Carolina Utilities Commission by March 30, 2026. Staff will also provide the draft comment letter to City Council for review before formal submission. Additionally, staff committed to exploring options for funding infrastructure improvements related to resilience hubs and reporting back to the committee on potential sources.

Impact These decisions directly affect local economic recovery and climate resilience. The approval of the Small Business Support Program recommendations moves $15.5 million in federal disaster recovery funds toward four local organizations, which will provide grants and support services to small businesses impacted by Tropical Storm Helene. The city’s intervention in the CPIRP process seeks to influence Duke Energy’s long-term generation strategy, aiming to ensure that regional energy planning supports Asheville’s goals for renewable energy, affordability, and grid resilience.