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Buncombe County presents 2025 strategic‑plan closeout: EV stations, solar installs and housing gains among highlights
Summary
County staff reported accomplishments from the 2025 strategic plan, including 33 EV charging stations (12 more underway), 54 solar installations, ~3,750 acres conserved, 161 affordable rental units completed since 2021, broadband to 2,000+ households, and improvements in third‑grade proficiency to 58 percent.
Andy Zer of the Office of Strategy & Innovation summarized the Buncombe County Strategic Plan 2025 closeout and highlighted results across four focus areas.
On environmental and energy stewardship, Zer reported 33 installed EV charging stations (12 more under construction), 54 solar installations (15 for county operations, and a 5‑megawatt utility project), and more than 3,750 acres preserved through farmland and conservation easements during the plan period.
For the county’s economic objectives, staff said 161 affordable rental units were completed since July 2021 with hundreds more under construction, ARPA‑funded tenant assistance reached hundreds of households, and broadband expansion extended service to more than 2,000 households. The county also reported workforce and small‑business supports, including low‑interest loans and reopen‑and‑rehire grants distributed through pandemic recovery funds.
Resident well‑being outcomes included increased participation in parks and recreation programs, additions to transit ridership, and a 30% year‑over‑year decline in emergency department visits tied to overdoses reported during the plan period. Education achievements included expansion of the Preschool Outreach Program (POP) to dozens of centers and a rise in third‑grade reading and math proficiency to 58 percent in 2025.
Zer said not every target was fully met — tropical storms and the pandemic affected greenway mileage and some other metrics — but staff framed the 2025 plan as a foundation for the 2030 strategic plan and as having produced measurable progress in several priority areas. The county will continue monitoring metrics and produce a public dashboard; staff expect to report on the 2030 plan in fall 2026.
Commissioners praised the collaborative approach and staff engagement that underpinned the work and encouraged continued community partnership as the county moves into the next strategic planning cycle.
