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<span style="font-size:1.0pt"><img width="325" height="73" style="width:3.3854in;height:.7604in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D7C4DE.CFA28F40" alt="Title: City of Durham Communications Department"></span><span style="font-size:1.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:5.0pt;color:#00467E"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
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<b><span style="color:#00467E">News Media Contact<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<span style="color:#00467E">Amy Blalock, Assistant Director<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:#00467F">919.560.4123 x11253 | 919.475.7735 (mobile</span><span style="color:#00467E">)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:#00467E">Amy.Blalock@DurhamNC.gov</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#00467E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:50.0pt;color:#00467F">News Release</span><span style="color:#00467F;text-transform:uppercase">
</span><br>
<span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#EF3D42">For Immediate Release: October 19, 2021</span><span style="color:#D3372A"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:black">Durham Carbon Neutrality and Renewable Energy Action Plan Adopted<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Plan Provides Blueprint Toward City’s Sustainability Goals<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color:black">DURHAM, N.C. – Durham has renewed its commitment to using 100% renewable energy and achieving carbon neutrality in the coming years now that its action plan has been adopted by the City Council.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color:black">Mayor Steve Schewel praised the City of Durham’s
</span><a href="https://cityordinances.durhamnc.gov/OnBaseAgendaOnline/Documents/ViewDocument/WS-Published%20Attachment%20-%2014966%20-%20EXHIBIT%20-%202%20-%20EXHIBIT%20A.%20CITY%20OF%20DURHAM.pdf?meetingId=482&documentType=Agenda&itemId=24021&publishId=104853&isSection=false">new
Carbon Neutrality and Renewable Energy Action Plan</a><span style="color:black">, which was adopted in a unanimous vote during last night’s City Council meeting. “I’m excited because we set ambitious goals and what this report shows me is that we can meet
them,” said Mayor Schewel. “This is a practical, incredibly detailed report. The consultants did a great job. I read a lot of these things, we all do on the Council, but this report is one of the best.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color:black">The plan was developed with the assistance of a consultant, GDS Associates, Inc., in response to goals set by City Council in 2019 calling on the City organization to use 80% renewable energy in City operations
by 2030, achieve carbon neutrality in City operations by 2040, and reach 100% renewable energy in City operations by 2050.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color:black">The action plan calls on the City to procure renewable energy through programs such as Duke Energy’s
</span><a href="https://www.duke-energy.com/Business/Products/Renewables/Green-Source-Advantage">Green Source Advantage</a><span style="color:black">, by siting solar arrays on City facilities, and by tapping methane from sewage treatment processes to generate
electricity for City buildings. It also recommends electrification of the City’s vehicle and transit fleets, constructing future City facilities to green standards, and improving energy efficiency in new and existing City facilities.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color:black">“The plan provides a practical framework to guide our efforts toward meeting our adopted goals,” said Director Jina Propst of the City’s General Services Department. “The plan shows our commitment toward building
a more sustainable, livable community for all of our residents who live here now as well as those to come in the future.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color:black">To watch the October 4 work session presentation and City Council discussion of the action plan, visit the City’s
<a href="https://youtu.be/9Xi4duRt41U?t=5220">YouTube channel</a>. For more information about the City’s sustainability and energy management initiatives, visit the Sustainability and Energy Management
</span><a href="https://durhamnc.gov/822/Sustainability-Energy-Management">webpage</a><span style="color:black"> or contact Sustainability and Energy Analyst Paul Cameron with the City’s General Services Department at (919) 560-4197, extension 21244 or by
</span><a href="mailto:Paul.Cameron@DurhamNC.gov">email</a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="color:black">About the City of Durham General Services Department<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color:black">The </span><a href="https://durhamnc.gov/733/General-Services">General Services Department</a><span style="color:black"> builds and maintains City properties to make Durham a great place for people to live,
work, and play. Guided by the City’s </span><a href="https://durhamnc.gov/183/Strategic-Plan">Strategic Plan</a><span style="color:black">, the department’s core functions include the acquisition and sale of properties, design and management of new construction
and renovation projects, building maintenance, landscaping and urban forestry services, cemeteries management, sustainability and energy management, cultural and public art program management, and supporting the nonprofit
</span><a href="https://keepdurhambeautiful.org/">Keep Durham Beautiful</a><span style="color:black">.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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