Projects and Programs

How do you pay for it? Do program fees cover the costs of providing service in a fair and equitable manner? What is the best way to get capital financing to pay for environmental infrastructure? Are environmental programs managed as efficiently as possible? These are questions that are the focus of the work carried out by the Environmental Finance Center at UNC-Chapel Hill.

denotes a current project or program.

Stormwater, Wetlands and Watersheds	Drinking Water & Wastewater	Land	Energy and Sustainability	Waste Management	Other Adaptive Strategies

	Sustainable Finance for Wetlands Programs The EFC, with funding from the EPA, is researching the myriad ways that states and tribes across the nation fund wetland permitting and protection programs. The research will result in a model of sustainable finance to help wetlands programs develop more consistent funding in a times of uncertain grant prospects and state budget cutbacks. The EFC will compile and share this information in seminars, supplemented with relevant skill instruction. We will also offer individual review of wetland protection financial plans.
	Healthy Watersheds through Healthy Forests Initiative The EFC is providing project assistance to the Conservation Trust for North Carolina, one of three partners on the $6 million national "Healthy Watersheds through Healthy Forests Initiative", which seeks to advance the connection between forest management and water quality and quantity. The EFC is developing a funding model for the Upper Neuse river basin.
	Southeastern Regional Water Quality Assistance Network The EFC provides financial expertise to a network of southeastern organizations that are committed to strengthening the capacity of communities to develop and successfully implement watershed protection efforts. Informational infography has been created to raise awareness for the need to protect the Mills River Watershed in NC.
	Stormwater Programs: Administration and Finance The EFC conducted surveys, developed a stormwater model ordinance, developed a stormwater fees dashboard, organized a stormwater implementation group, conducted trainings and produced publications and other resources to assist in administering and financing stormwater programs.
	Stormwater Model Ordinance for N.C. Local Governments The EFC, in cooperation with the North Carolina League of Municipalities and the Association of County Commissioners, has developed a model local ordinance for the Phase II stormwater regulations as implemented in North Carolina.
	Watershed Protection Infography for Mills River, North Carolina The EFC developed a multi-media informational infography to raise support for sustainable watershed protection funding for the Mills River Watershed Protection Project in western North Carolina. This work was conducted for the Southeastern Regional Water Quality Assistance Network, of which the EFC is a member.
	NC Stormwater Utility Survey 2007 (xls) The EFC worked with JEWELL Engineering Consultants, PC, to conduct a survey of 17 stormwater utilities in North Carolina in 2007. Some utilities were in Phase I and others were in Phase II. Survey results are shown for FY 2007-08 compared to the FY 2006-07 and FY 2003-04.
	Source Water Protection Planning Source water protection involves preventing the pollution of both ground and surface water bodies that serve as sources of drinking water for communities. Cleaning up contamination or finding a new source of drinking water is complicated and costly. Proper planning can aid a community in protecting not only current sources of water, but also water sources that may be tapped in the future in response to population growth and other factors. The EFC worked with partners on various projects and case studies on source water protection.
	StormWater Implementation Group (SWIG) In 2005-2006, the EFC facilitated monthly meetings at the UNC School of Government for North Carolina local governments interested in sharing and solving implementation problems raised by Phase II stormwater requirements.

	Defining a Resilient Business Model for Water Utilities The Environmental Finance Center has been awarded funding by the Water Research Foundation for a study to define new approaches and models for water utilities in addressing current and future financial challenges. This page provides further information on the project, to be active through April 2013.
	Water System Capacity Development Support The EFC is providing guidance and training on water system financial management and on creating inter-system partnerships. This webpage links to many of our webpages that are focused on water system financial management and inter-system partnerships.
	Water and Wastewater Rates and Fees The EFC continuously conducts research and provides much information and direct assistance to local governments and not-for-profit water and wastewater utilities on setting rates, fees and charges. This webpage provides links to tools, documents, research, trainings and resources valuable to utility staff, governing bodies, policy makers, assistance providers, customers, media and researchers.
	GA Water and Wastewater Rates and Rate Structures The EFC, collaborating with the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority, annually collects and analyzes water and wastewater rate structures from over 450 public service providers in Georgia (over 90%). This information can assist elected officials and staff as they make decisions related to water and wastewater services during budget preparations. Includes a link to the GA Rates Dashboard.
	NC Water and Wastewater Rates and Rate Structures The EFC and the NC League of Municipalities annually collect and analyze water and wastewater rate schedules from over 450 public service providers in North Carolina (over 90%). The rate schedules are used to determine what residential and commercial customers of these utilities are billed for their water and wastewater service, at various consumption levels. This information can assist elected officials and staff as they make decisions related to water and wastewater services during budget preparations. Includes a link to the NC Rates Dashboard.
	Water Use Conservation and Efficiency Droughts can threaten a community's water supplies as well as their abilities to fund public health and environmental services related to water and wastewater. The EFC is working with utilities, technical assistance providers, state agencies and other organizations to promote financially sustainable methods for conserving water. Guidance to encouraging conservation of water use is provided for utilities.
	Household Water Consumption Behavior The EFC is analyzing the consumption patterns of residential customers of some of the largest utilities in North Carolina. The entire record of water, irrigation and wastewater bills through two fiscal years is analyzed to provide a comprehensive analysis of residential consumption.
	Sustainable Urban Water Use in the Southeast In order to speed the process of implementing efficiency measures in the Southeast, the Environmental Finance Center (EFC), with the NC Water Resources Research Institute and other regional partners, is offering a series of trainings across the Southeast (NC, SC and GA). This series seeks to actively engage those most directly responsible for making decisions about water management, elected officials and water system managers.
	Financially Sustainable Water Infrastructure Initiative Of the many questions facing water and sewer utility professionals, perhaps the most vital to the financial well being of the utility and ultimately to the protection of public health and the environment include: How does your utility set your water and sewer rates? Do you know the full cost of providing water and sewer service in your community? If so, how do you communicate financial needs to elected officials and the general public? The EFC is undertaking an effort to help local communities answer these questions so that they can move towards financial sustainability.
	Select Financial and Management Utility Practices in Georgia In Georgia, it is generally accepted that local governments have significant flexibility in structuring their utility services. This project, conducted in 2010, highlights some of the common financial management practices that Georgia utilities have adopted when it comes to topics such as debt collection practices.
	Water System Partnerships, Interconnections and Interlocal Agreements The EFC is analyzing the forms of water system partnerships and interlocal agreements that exist in North Carolina, and has authored guidelines, tools and maps to assist water system managers in their capacity to partner with their neighboring systems.
	Capital Planning Resources for Water and Wastewater Utilities The EFC is updating a page that brings together many resources focused on capital planning for drinking water and wastewater utilities. Capital planning often leads to the creation of a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and/or an Asset Management Plan. Download the Reference Guide for Capital Planning from this page.
	Irrigation Pricing, Policies and Practices in North Carolina This research sought to address some of the financial and management implications of municipal irrigation metering by comparing the practices, policies and pricing of twelve of North Carolina’s largest utilities.
	Dialogue on Sustainable Water Infrastructure in the United States In 2009, Jeff Hughes participated in the Aspen Institute's national dialogue that gave rise to ten policy recommendations, reached by consensus, on the future of America's water and wastewater infrastructure.
	Adjusting Water Utility Impact Fees in Chatham County, NC In May 2010, the EFC helped Chatham County develop a water utility impact fee structure where fees increase depending upon the expected impact of the individual customer on the county's water system capacity.
	Developing a New Revenue Model for Water Rates in Montgomery County, NC A team from the EFC worked with Montgomery County (2009-2010) to reevaluate water rates and fees, taking into account the costs to reserve capacity and provide treated water to bulk service customers. The EFC developed a model that clarified the need for raising rates and presented the consequences of not doing so.
	Promoting Inter-local Water Partnerships in Surry County, NC A team from the School of Government and the EFC worked with the local government units of Dobson, Elkin, Mount Airy, Pilot Mountain and Surry County, NC to examine the challenges and opportunities for water system partnerships within the County.
	Utility Rate Setting for Cost Recovery and Conservation The North Carolina State Water Infrastructure Commission (SWIC) engaged the EFC to study the relationship between water rates and water use, as well as to provide recommendations on how funding agencies can evaluate utilities' water rates and pricing in light of recent legislation mandating that rates be sufficient to cover operating and financing costs. The EFC worked with SWIC to prepare two guidance documents for NC utilities: 1) how to measure whether a utility's rates meet the minimum rate setting requirements as set in S.L. 2008-143 (the 2008 Drought Bill), and 2) guidance on rate structures and billing practices that encourage water conservation.
	Analyzing Alternative Rate Structures for Aqua North Carolina The EFC investigated the potential impacts switching to an increasing block rate structure would have on Aqua North Carolina's water customers and on Aqua's revenues, as well as using uniform volumetric rates on its wastewater customers. Aqua NC owns and operates over 650 small water systems across North Carolina.
	Water Auditing for Small Systems (pdf) The EFC, in partnership with the Dan Okun chapter of the Engineers Without Borders at UNC conducted a water audit for Navassa, NC, using the AWWA/IWA Water Audit methodology. The EFC also computed standard benchmarks and calculated the value of water losses to the Town.
	Water Infrastructure Funding Coordination The EFC researches models and strategies for coordinating state water infrastructure funding. The Center creates tools and conducts trainings to communicate best practices to the larger infrastructure funding community.
	Water Operator Recognition and Retention One common problem that many small drinking water systems face is a high turn over among water operators. This project identifies practices that have proven successful in the retention of water operators. It also involves marketing these “best practices,” in the form of case studies, to other systems in order to improve their operator retention.
	Yadkin Valley Sewer Authority The Yadkin Valley Sewer Authority (YVSA) is an example of a new, productive wastewater Authority. The EFC is providing general institutional and financial advice as this new Regional Authority develops. As costs and the administrative burden of managing a wastewater utility continue to escalate, regional sewer authorities are on the rise. Regional authorities allow municipalities to take advantage of economies of scale.
	Water and Sewer Needs and Capital Finance Strategies in Appalachia The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) contracted with the EFC to carry out a water and wastewater infrastructure funding needs and gap assessment in the 410-county Appalachian Region. The main purpose of the project was to provide policy makers and local officials with detailed information on future water and wastewater investment requirements and financial strategies to meet those needs given the fiscal capacity of individual communities.
	Paying for Improved Water Quality in the Florida Keys The EFC provided financial planning assistance to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Water Quality Protection Program by assisting the program's Steering Committee, Monroe County and other organizations such as the Florida Keys Wastewater Assistance Foundation (FKWAF). The EFC completed a sewer connection charge needs assessment and created tools to determine the affordability of wastewater charges.
	Corinth, Mississippi - Financing Scenario The EFC assisted the Corinth Gas and Water Department (CGWD) to develop a cash flow analysis for their plan to replace their groundwater source with surface water from the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. The EFC also helped CGWD gauge the perceptions of the five nearby utilities regarding the surface water project and to investigate how the existing capital reserve fund could be used to finance the project.
	Residential Tap Fees and System Development Charges in NC The EFC conducted a survey of initial, one-time fees for new residential customers of North Carolina water and wastewater utilities. This survey summarized tap fees and system development charges for over 300 utilities in 2006 and 2009.
	Water and Sewer Authority of Cabarrus County's Governing Board Organizational Development WSACC, one of the North Carolina's largest multi-jurisdictional utilities, requested assistance from the EFC to provide organizational development support to the Board of Directors as part of their efforts to re-examine their governance structure and inter-jurisdictional financial policies.
	Creating a Disadvantaged Communities Program within DWSRF Through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program, states receive funds from the federal government to capitalize state managed revolving loan fund programs. States are given a degree of flexibility in how they design the programs including the ability to design special programs for "disadvantaged communities." This project created an inventory of EPA Region 4 states that have chosen to implement disadvantaged community programs and explores how NC should define a "disadvantaged community" as it relates to the DWSRF.
	Water and Wastewater Financial Capacity and Affordability in EPA Region IV The EFC conducted a policy analysis on the financial capacity of utilities in North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Kentucky. The analysis provided utilities and funding organizations with quantitative information at the community/utility level on the ability of utilities to meet anticipated capital financing challenges. As part of the analysis, the EFC researched reports and studies on documented needs and financial capacity.
	Developing and Evaluating Environmental Finance Distance Education Tools The EFC, in collaboration with state certification boards, developed distance education tools and online training courses for the certification of water and wastewater professionals on various environmental finance topics (accessing funding sources, rate setting, budgeting). The course walked participants through financing policy and planning tools with real-world examples.
	North Carolina Onsite Wastewater Systems: Funding and Resources The decision to provide loans and grants for low-income homeowners to replace failing systems is an emerging trend in North Carolina, due to high rates of septic system failures, the resulting degradation of surface and ground waters, and the inability of low-income homeowners to resolve the problem. Reports and comprehensive catalogues of local government entities funding septic repair programs and known organizational funding resources.

	Finance and Governance of an Eco-Industrial Park (5.3 MB; pdf) Green industrial parks have the potential to provide jobs and tax benefits for local governments all while protecting the local environment. However, GIPs require much more planning and often more financial support to get off the ground than conventional industrial parks - both challenges that can be onerous for small local governments to manage. This report was coauthored by the EFC investigating the feasibility of creating an eco-industrial park in Camden County, NC.
	Financing Land Conservation The EFC has completed several projects that help explain the cost and means of financing land conservation. The North Carolina Land & Water Conservation Commission met on 11/16/06 to hear from experts about the existing conservation funding streams in order to identify financing options for the State to reach its goal of securing $1 billion over five years to add to conservation trust funds. EFC's Richard Whisnant was among those who addressed the Commission. He presented the group with a full slate of funding options.
	Cost and and Financing Options for the North Carolina Million Acres Initiative In 2000, the NC General Assembly enacted a commitment to protect an additional one million acres of North Carolina as dedicated open space over a ten-year period. The EFC analyzed the extent to which conservation lands are already being acquired in the state, the estimated gap in between present rates of protection and the million acre goal, the estimated costs of filling this gap, including costs to local government in potential lost tax revenue, and some of the possible financing options to pay the costs of filling this gap.
	Implementing a Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund In 1999, the US Environmental Protection Agency and the EFC held a charrette in Charlotte, NC to discuss the issues around the implementation of a Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund. The EFC summarized the discussions and recommendations that came out of the charrette in a report.

	Tennesse Energy Management for Water Utilities This series of four workshops focuses on the development of energy management plans and conservation measures for a select group of water and wastewater utilities in Tennessee. The project is sponsored by the TN Department of Environment and Conservation, EPA, the Tennessee Valley Authority, Schneider Electric, UMemphis, and the University of Tennesseee Insitute for Public Service.
	North Carolina Electricity Pricing Research and Tools In an effort to interpret and promote sustainable and clean energy use in North Carolina, the EFC sampled rate schedules from over 95 percent of residential electricity customers statewide. The report summarizing these rates at different levels of consumption is a useful tool for utilities across the state for setting electricity rates.
	Designing and Implementing Community Energy Finance Programs The EFC created and compiled a set of resources to assist local governments in deciding the best course-of-action for the development and implementation of community energy finance programs in their community.
	Technical Assistance for Clean Energy Financing The EFC has joined a national team to provide financial mechanism support for clean energy to state and local recipients of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) funding.
	Market Assessments of Energy Efficiency Retrofit Financing Programs The EFC conducted a series of Market Assessments across the U.S. to determine the potential demand for local financing programs for energy efficiency retrofits and to identify specific customers and geographic areas with the greatest level of demand to assist the administrators in target marketing these financing programs.
	Resource Conservation and Sustainability for Local Governments Elected officials are making public commitments to local government sustainability efforts. The next step is for local government employees to act on these commitments in ways that serve the public interest, make good use of limited financial resources, and achieve environmental goals. The EFC is researching techniques and funding mechanisms to assist local and state governments conserve resources and develop sustainable practices.
	Expanding North Carolina Energy Efficiency and Renewable Lending Programs: Market Snapshot The EFC interviewed more than 20 stakeholders in North Carolina to gather ideas and insights that could inform lending policies. Through interviews and research, the EFC provides key findings for the overall NC energy efficiency and renewable energy lending program.
	Assistance for Energy Efficiency and Conservation Project Funding from NC State Energy Office The EFC provided training and direct assistance to local governments, state agencies, UNC system institutions, public schools and community colleges interested in applying for NC State Energy Office EECBG funds during the winter of 2009-2010.
	Clean Energy Durham's Home Energy Share and Compare Tool The EFC supported the development of an online tool that allows Durham, NC residents to track and compare the energy use of their home and vehicles. This tool is unique in that it enables people to cmpare energy use for a particular month of weather in a specific town.

	Landfill Capacity Analysis The North Carolina Department of Natural Resources annually measures the capacity of North Carolina's active municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. This project includes landfill capacity statistics, as well as a series of maps that present the issue of landfill capacity in a more relevant, geographical context. The EFC created a comprehensive, interactive solid waste web site that allows users to point-and-click their way to waste disposal data for each of the state’s 100 counties, and capacity information for each of the state’s 40 active MSW landfills.
	Oyster Shell Recycling The EFC reviewed some of the financial aspects of the Oyster Shell Recycling Bill in North Carolina in 2005 that prohibits disposal of oyster shells in landfills. The goal was to place the shells in oyster sanctuaries to restore oyster populations off the coast. The EFC examined the costs involved in establishing recycling programs and the degree to which the financial incentives envisioned in the bill were likely to promote recycling.
	Municipal Solid Waste Fees in NC in FY 2005-06 (xls) The EFC provided support to the NC League of Municipalities (NCLM) in carrying out their bi-annual survey of solid waste practices. The NCLM conducted a survey in summer/fall of 2005 related to the finance and practice of solid waste service provision. This survey yielded information on the fee schedules of garbage, recycling, yard waste, and bulk item collection for 130 North Carolina municipalities.
	Wake County School Recycling Program Case Study This EFC case study detailed the Wake County Solid Waste Management Division's (SWMD) pilot program as well as its results which show that the SWMD can increase services, reduce costs and utilize partnerships with other organizations in order to will improve overall program efficiency, save up to 39% per year, and form the foundation for a sustainable recycling program supported by education for students.
	Cost Recovery Systems for Recycling: Orange County, NC The EFC worked on a pilot project in Orange County to develop and evaluated alternative cost recovery systems for communities with extensive recycling programs. The EFC worked with County staff and a citizens advisory board to make sure that program service objectives, as well as customer equity concerns are carefully considered and addressed. The project included preparation of financial planning and fee setting models capable of assessing a variety of different revenue options including district taxes, county wide taxes and targeted customer service fees.
	Paying Up Front for Disposal of Special Wastes The EFC researched and reported on North Carolina's reasons for introducing advance disposal fees for special wastes such as large appliances and tires. Advance disposal fees may also work with electronic goods, which present similar environmental risks and costs.

Consortium on Growth in the Southeast In conjunction with the Southern Consortium of University Public Service Organizations (SCUPSO), the Southern Growth Policies Board, and the Video Development Initiative (ViDe), with funding from the Southeastern University Research Association (SURA), the EFC linked together with faculty around the southern United States who work on aspects of growth management. The means for this linkage was the emerging technology of large scale video networks (LSVN), under development for eventual widespread deployment on the internet. Faculty in the consortium use desktop videoconferencing to share thoughts and data about the numerous efforts at growth management around the region.

Hydropower Relicensing: Opportunities for and Obstacles to Environmental Quality Improvements and Recreational Enhancements on Southeastern Rivers (603 KB; pdf) This report on the process and actual examples of hydro relicensing agreements in the Southeastern United States is a great introduction for local governments, citizen groups, and others who wonder what the possibilities are for environmental and recreational benefits from relicensing proceedings.