Environmental and Energy Stewardship Subcommittee Meeting

Meeting Overview The Environmental and Energy Stewardship Subcommittee of Buncombe County Government held a meeting on March 21, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:02 p.m. in Room 310 at 200 College Street. The agenda covered updates on land conservation, air quality impacts from Hurricane Helene, internal sustainability projects, and the committee’s 2025 schedule.

Key Decisions The subcommittee took two formal votes during the session. First, a motion to amend the agenda to include introductions for subcommittee members was passed unanimously. Second, the committee approved the meeting minutes from the previous session, which also passed unanimously. No other motions or votes were recorded.

Discussion Highlights A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to updates on recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene. Staff presented data on the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program, noting that 259 site visits had been completed and 61 initial applications submitted, with a total of 350 to 400 site visits anticipated. Regarding air quality, staff reported an approximately 50% increase in open burning complaints since the storm and detailed the deployment of additional PM2.5 monitors and sensors. The department noted that 273 demolition and asbestos permit applications had been received since the hurricane, up from 193 in the previous year.

On land conservation, staff outlined the county’s progress toward its goal of conserving 20% of Buncombe County by 2030. With 78,530 acres currently protected, the county needs to protect an additional 5,566 acres to meet the target. Staff presented two options for the 2030 strategic plan: setting a specific acreage goal or initiating a goal of 700 acres per year, which would total 3,500 acres over five years. Staff also reported that $10,097,743 of the $30,000,000 open space bond funds remain available.

Internal sustainability updates indicated the county is approximately 40% toward its 2030 sustainability goal, with over 60 solar projects completed. Staff announced that the first two battery projects are scheduled for installation in two weeks at PSTC and 40 Coxe. Additionally, staff discussed the use of Community Resource Centers as resilience hubs, featuring renewable energy, storage, and backup generators.

Community Input There was no formal public comment period during the meeting, and no members of the public spoke.

Follow-ups Staff agreed to share the draft strategic plan with committee members. Committee members were asked to share ideas and topics for the subcommittee’s focus in the coming year. Staff also agreed to reach out to Chris Link to gauge his interest in serving another term, as his term expires in July 2025.

Impact These discussions highlight the county’s ongoing efforts to balance immediate disaster recovery with long-term environmental stewardship. The review of conservation goals and bond fund status provides clarity on how remaining resources will be allocated for land protection. Furthermore, the detailed reporting on air quality monitoring and demolition permits addresses community concerns regarding health and safety in the aftermath of the hurricane. The committee’s decision to cancel the April meeting in favor of a May session reflects the current prioritization of storm recovery responsibilities.