CPRC News & Updates

June 18, 2025

Welcome to "The Pine Needler," your go-to source for all things happening in the Central Pines Region! We're here to keep you in the loop with our bi-monthly updates on upcoming events and regional news. Stay connected with us as we bring you the latest happenings and stories that will surely make your day pine-tastic!

In This Edition:

In Every Edition:

New Opportunity for Cape Fear River Basin Communities
DEQ Accepting Public Input on 2025 Draft NC Energy Security Plan
A Look at Housing in NC
Central Pines Leaders Serve at National Level
Direct Pay Round Table

Popular Links & Resources
Career Opportunities
Upcoming Events

New Opportunity for Cape Fear River Basin Communities

Central Pines Regional Council (CPRC), in partnership with Mid-Carolina Regional Council, is launching a new initiative to support communities in the Cape Fear River Basin through a Transformational Habitat Restoration Grant funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This planning grant focuses on identifying and preparing for wetland and stream restoration projects that enhance ecosystems, reduce flood risk, and improve water quality.

Communities located within the Cape Fear River Basin—spanning parts of Chatham, Durham, Orange, Wake, Moore, and Lee counties—are encouraged to participate. CPRC will work closely with local governments and community partners to identify and develop high-impact restoration efforts. The Nature Conservancy, Triangle Land Conservancy, and American Rivers will lend expertise and tools to help guide project selection and implementation.

If your community faces flooding challenges or has identified areas in need of wetland or stream restoration, CPRC invites you to explore this opportunity. Contact Tara Nattress at tnattress@centralpinesnc.gov to learn more or to collaborate on potential projects.

DEQ Accepting Public Input on 2025 Draft NC Energy Security Plan

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) State Energy Office is accepting public input on the 2025 Draft North Carolina Energy Security Plan now through July 14, 2025.

The plan assesses key threats, vulnerabilities, consequences and risks the state’s energy system faces, including severe weather, cybersecurity, aging infrastructure, supply interdependencies and physicals attacks, among other hazards. The plan also provides mitigation strategies and recommendations to minimize risk, such as deploying microgrids, strengthening infrastructure, adopting cybersecurity protocols, diversifying generation resources and installing grid-enhancing technology. It also outlines the coordination and response effort to energy emergencies.

North Carolina’s energy system underpins the state’s economy, health and safety infrastructure. The recommended strategies aim to bolster the resilience and reliability of the energy system, while minimizing energy disruptions and related impacts.

Public input will be accepted until July 14, 2025. Input can be emailed to seo.publiccomments@deq.nc.gov with “2025 NC Energy Security Plan” in the subject line. The plan is available online.

View Plan

A Look at Housing in North Carolina

From NC’s Housing Finance Agency, the NC Housing Snapshot is an interactive map below that provides the latest housing-related data by county. Click on the map to see characteristics of each county’s housing profile including:

How many residents are cost burdened
Age of each county’s housing stock
Population change and
Other information that is vital to understanding the need for affordable housing across the state.

View Snapshot

Central Pines Leaders Serve at National Level

The National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) recently wrapped up its 59th Annual Conference and Exhibition in Seattle, Washington, where regional leaders from across the country gathered to share ideas and elect new leadership for the coming year.

Central Pines Regional Council had a strong presence at the event. Jennifer Robinson, Town of Cary Council Member and long-time CPRC delegate, concluded her impactful term as NARC Past President. Her leadership over the past few years has elevated the role of regional councils nationwide.

Representing Central Pines on the national stage again this year is Kathleen Ferguson, Town of Hillsborough, who will continue to serve on the NARC Board of Directors.

Additionally, CPRC Executive Director Lee Worsley will return to the influential Executive Directors Council—an advisory group made up of executive directors from regional planning organizations across the country—for the 2025–2026 term. We're proud to see Central Pines leaders continuing to shape regional policy at the national level!

Jennifer Robinson

Mayor Pro Tem

Town of Cary

Kathleen Ferguson

Commissioner

Town of Hillsborough

Lee Worsley

Executive Director

Central Pines Regional Council

Direct Pay Round Table

Central Pines Regional Council is partnering with the NC Department of Environmental Quality and the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance to host an in-person info session on Elective Pay (also known as Direct Pay) — a new way for tax-exempt entities to access clean energy tax credits.

📅 Tuesday, July 29, 2025

🕤 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.

📍 Central Pines Regional Council

Elective Pay allows organizations like local governments, school districts, nonprofits, and houses of worship to receive direct federal payments for clean energy projects — including solar installations, EV purchases, and charging infrastructure. If your organization placed a project in service in 2025 or plans to, this session is for you. Join us to learn how to file for your tax credit, prepare for future projects, and connect with the resources you need.

Career Opportunities

CPRC Openings

Work Local in the Central Pines Region

There are so many amazing career opportunities to serve your community and work for local government in the Central Pines Region. Check out the most recent job postings here!