Agenda 04/14/2009 - Laserfiche WebLink

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March 24, 2009 officials submit the one-page application. All members of Council agreed this is a good program and directed Scott to proceed with implementation of the program. Mark Heath of Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation gave a report on the Big Chair Project proposed for the Broad Street parking lot. Plans are to turn part of the Broad Street parking lot into a park honoring the area's furniture heritage. He said the big chair is symbolic of a much bigger effort to tie tourism and revitalization efforts into the area's furniture, textile and motorsports legacy. He pointed out the Planning Commission is to hold a public hearing on April 16 and this project will be brought back for Council approval probably in May. Council members commented regarding the project and thanked Patrick Henry Community College for their assistance to the EDC in the design drawings. On a motion by Gene Teague, seconded by Mark Stroud, with a 5-0 vote, Council approved adoption of the following resolution supporting the City of Martinsville Landfill Methane Recovery Project for Carbon/Renewable Energy Credits and Potential Energy Production: WHEREAS, the recovery of methane gas emissions from landfills is a potential renewable energy resource as well as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and WHEREAS, the utilization of landfill gas can result in the generation of carbon credits and renewable energy credits (and the production of energy) and these credits have value and can be traded in the marketplace: and WHEREAS, the utilization and/or destruction of landfill gas extracted from the Martinsville Landfill is not required at this time since it is not mandated under any federal, state or local law, and thus any such action is voluntary; and WHEREAS, carbon credits are generated through implementation of emission reduction projects and that an estimated 67,500 tons of carbon credits are available at the Martinsville Landfill during the fist year of a recovery project; and WHEREAS, carbon units are exchanged on the open market where a buyer pays a seller in exchange for a given amount of carbon units that may be used towards its voluntary or mandatory obligations; and WHEREAS, the City of Martinsville supports actions that will have the etlect of reducing emissions of greenhouses gases; now, therefore; BE IT RESOLVED, by the Council of the City of Martinsville, Virgini~ in regular session assembled March 24, 2009, that it does hereby affirm its interest and desire to pursue a voluntary project at the Martinsville City Landfill to recover methane emissions, to develop its capacity to participate in carbon/renewable energy credit markets as a source of revenue, and to explore possible options related to energy production. Leon Towarnicki reported that completion of recent engineering work at the City landfill indicates a sufficient quantity of landfill gas (methane) is being generated at the facility to warrant further investigation regarding a possible methane recovery project for the purpose of capturing carbon and/ or renewable energy credits as well as possible energy production. Carbon credits, achieved through the destruction or utilization of the landfill gas, have a monetary value and could be a potential revenue source for the City. Additionally, preliminary information