Climate Action Work Plan

As part of implementing Charlottesville's Community Climate Action Plan, we are publishing our 2023 Climate Action Work Plan. This is a summary list of projects the City is undertaking this year to work towards our climate goals. It serves as the foundation for our annual reporting of progress towards meeting those goals. We also invited partners across the community we know are working on climate to share their plans and programs too. Community-based actions are in the second table below. We know this is a snapshot of the climate work that's happening in Charlottesville, so if there's something we missed or a new initiative we should know about, please let us know!

View a .pdf of the Work Plan here.

City of Charlottesville-led Initiatives & Programs

City of Charlottesville-led Initiatives and Programs
Program Name	Council Priority	GHG Impact	Funding	Timing	Lead Dept.	Notes
Transit Alternative Fuel Study	Yes	Prerequisite	Funded	Ongoing	CAT	Meets FTA requirements for future funding
Gas Decarbonization Study	Yes	Prerequisite	Funded	Ongoing	Utilities	Consider strategies to align with city climate goals
Zoning Rewrite	Yes	Prerequisite	Partial	Ongoing	NDS	Anticipating subsequent work needed to address climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience
City Environmental Regulations Review	Yes	Prerequisite	Partial	12+ months	NDS	Needed to address climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience related to development
Flood Resilience Plan	-	Prerequisite	Funded	Ongoing	PWD	Related to Climate Adaptation Planning Prerequisite for future funding through Community Flood Preparedness Fund
C-PACE	Yes	Moderate	No Funding needed	0 - 6 months	PWD/ESD	Private sector climate/resilience project financing tool Opt-in to Statewide program
Green Bank Feasibility Study	Yes	Prerequisite	No Funding Needed	12+ months	PWD/ESD	Feasibility to be studied with UVA support
EV Charging Infrastructure (limited scope)	-	Low	Funded	6 - 12 months	PWD/ESD	Grant-related effort Potential for 4-8 EV chargers to be installed
Residential Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Deployment	Yes	Moderate	Funded (FY24)	Ongoing	PWD/ESD	Partnership with LEAP Annual program elements include Solarize, energy efficiency work, ed/outreach
Renew America’s Schools Grant – Application (including securing local match)	-	Prerequisite	Local Funding Match required (estimate $500K)	Due 4/21/2023	PWD/ESD	Pursuing $5-10M to pursue GHG reductions through energy savings and solar power generation at CHS Need to confirm/approve local match source
Renew America's Schools Grant-funded project	Yes	High	Grant + Local Match	Up to 60 months	PWD/ESD	Comprehensive energy improvements and solar power generation at CHS First in a series of potential Energy Improvement Projects in City and CCS facilities
Home Improvement/Energy Efficiency	-	Low	Annual Allocation	12+ months	OCS	Annual allocations by the City Council for affordable housing development, and “Entitlement” from U.S Dept. of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) for home improvement.
Charlottesville Gas Energy Efficiency Program	-	Moderate	Funded	Ongoing	Utilities	Annual program elements include energy efficiency improvements, education, and outreach
Attic Insulation Rebate	-	Moderate	Funded	Ongoing	Utilities	Annual program promotes energy efficiency improvements
Programmable Thermostat Rebate Program	-	Moderate	Funded	Ongoing	Utilities	Annual program promotes energy efficiency
Carbon Offset Natural Gas Program	-	Low	Funded	Ongoing	Utilities	Strategy to reduce CO2 emissions
Energy-Saving Trees Program	-	Low	Funded	Ongoing	Utilities	Partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation (200 free trees to residents) Annual program promotes energy conservation and carbon sequestration
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG)	-	Low	Grant Funded	6 - 12 months	PWD/ESD	Charlottesville allocation = $76,840 Support residential home energy checkups and access to related incentive programs.
Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) - establish procurement opportunity mechanism	Yes	Prerequisite	None needed	12+ months	PWD/ESD	Strategy to increase solar capacity on City/School Buildings
Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA) – establish procurement model/opportunity	Yes	Prerequisite	TBD	12+ months	PWD/ESD	Strategy to address municipal energy load beyond on-site generation potential Ongoing collaborative effort with peer VA communities Anticipates energy services consultant support
Internal Green Building Standards for New Construction and Major Renovations	Yes	Prerequisite	Funded	6 - 12 months	PWD/FD	Institutionalize high performing building standards across the City organization Use UVA, AlbCo, and peer communities as models
Community Education & Outreach Work	-	Moderate	Funded	Ongoing	PWD/ESD	Ongoing climate program activity Focused on making information, programs, and services equitable, accessible, & widespread
GHG Inventory	-	Prerequisite	Funded	Ongoing	PWD/ESD	Annual climate program activity
Composting Program	-	Low	Funded	Ongoing	PWD/ESD	Annual program activity Limited program scope
Community and Urban Forests Grant – Application	-	Prerequisite	Local Match Required	Application Submitted June 2023	P&R	Pursuing $300,000 grant to review and update Urban Forest Management Plan
Urban Tree Planting	-	Low	CIP Funded	Ongoing	P&R	Annual program activity Limited program scope
Bicycle Infrastructure	-	Low	CIP Funded	Ongoing	NDS	Annual program activity Limited program scope
New Sidewalks	-	Low	CIP Funded	Ongoing	PWD	Annual program activity Limited program scope
City and Schools Solar PV Program	-	Moderate	CIP Funded	Ongoing	PWD	Annual program activity
Clean Energy Loan Fund	-	Low	CIP Funded	Ongoing	PWD	No ongoing funding committed Program delivered through LEAP
LED Streetlight Conversion	Yes	Low	CIP Funded	12+ months	PWD/ESD	FY24 funded ($600,000)
School Bus Electrification Implementation Plan	Yes	Prerequisite	Unfunded	12+ months	PWD/ESD	Outside technical consulting Anticipating grant funding opportunities for bus and infrastructure over next 5 years
Other Grant Opportunities	-	Prerequisite	Grants	Ongoing	Varies	Ongoing program activity TBD for 2023; IRA and BIL funding opportunities will exist over the span of the next 3-10 years
Climate Adaptation and Resilience Planning	-	Prerequisite	TBD	Ongoing	PWD/ESD	Building on 2022 Climate Risk identification Potential for broader regional approach Coordinating with Albemarle County

Community Led Initiatives and Programs

Program Name	Lead Organization	Timeline	Notes/Goals/Metrics
Energy Efficiency Upgrades	AHIP	Ongoing	Partnership with local companies to improve the energy efficiency and health of area homes Saves energy and money for homeowners
Green Business Alliance	Community Climate Collaborative (C3)	Ongoing - 2nd Year	Supports local businesses in reducing their climate impacts Kicked off second cohort in Spring 2023 Minimum target of 30% GHG reduction for each member over 5-year time frame Group level goals are 35 – 45% GHG reduction over 5 years
Make Your Own Impact	C3	Ongoing	Public education and outreach campaign designed to help individuals take climate action. Includes online and offline events.
Climate Kits for Kids	C3	Annual	Done in partnership with ACPS, CCS, and the VA Discovery Museum City kits are supported by EWMP program – 330 kits to CCS 5th graders
Energy Efficiency Grants	C3	Annual	Award energy efficiency upgrades (HVAC, lighting, appliances) to small, minority-owned businesses Applications open January – March, awards delivered in spring and early summer
Climate Services	C3	Ongoing	Professional services for commercial organizations to assist in reducing energy usage and carbon footprint Includes energy assessments, carbon footprinting, and project facilitation Limited availability for free services for community organizations - nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and schools Fee-for-service provided to for-profit businesses
Community Education	C3	Ongoing	Covering a variety of topics that raise awareness, provide recognition, and uplift our work and the work of others Some of the most popular posts have been seen by over 3k readers
Transportation Equity	C3	Ongoing	Facilitates collaborative partnerships with community leaders and stakeholders to drive the vision of accessible, efficient, affordable, and sustainable transportation solutions. Through comprehensive community engagement efforts, valuable insights are gathered, leading to the development of impactful reports, presentations, workshops, and advocacy initiatives.
Energy Equity	C3	Ongoing	Collaborates with community leaders and stakeholders to empower and address the energy challenges faced by underprivileged individuals in our community. Through inclusive community outreach and robust input collection, we generate insightful reports, engaging presentations, and impactful advocacy efforts. We promote energy options that are more equitable, efficient, affordable, and sustainable and prioritize our community's needs and aspirations.
Urban Agriculture Collective	Cultivate Charlottesville	Ongoing	Works to grow and share food and power. UAC works with neighbors on urban farm sites located at public and subsidized housing sites. Food grown is shared with neighbors at no-cost bi-weekly markets.
Food Justice Network	Cultivate Charlottesville	Ongoing	A network of 35 organizations working to build a healthy and just food system in Charlottesville that centers community voice and racial equity.  FJN coordinates implementation of Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform goals towards climate justice and urban agriculture in Charlottesville.
City Schoolyard Gardens	Cultivate Charlottesville	Ongoing	Hosts gardens and leadership programming at 7 CCS schools and our promise neighborhood. These sites implement environmental education and sustainability practices including progress towards climate goals such as composting, tree canopy, living pathways, etc.
Collaboration	Cville100	Ongoing	Bring together various environmentally focused groups to advance climate action in Charlottesville and Albemarle County. Examples of this include tabling on the mall and other public spaces, coordinating with UVA to conduct program feasibility studies, and garnering support for petitions such as protecting the tree canopy and banning gas powered machinery.
Education	Cville100	Ongoing	Organize and present webinars and discussions to increase the understanding of climate issues by the local community. Raise awareness of how climate change is affecting groups, who are not currently focused on it, about how they will be impacted by it. Presentations are made by local government representatives, environmental groups, and members of Cville100 Climate Alliance.
Motivation	Cville100	Ongoing	Use social engagement tools to motivate community members and local government representatives to take decisions that will promote action in addressing climate change.
Advocacy	Cville100	Ongoing	Present climate action issues at City Council and County Board meetings. This includes organizing speakers to make statements in support of the elimination of residential natural gas installations and gas powered machinery in government, increasing the tree canopy, and converting to low carbon emission buses for mass transit. Additionally, we are promoting the incorporation of climate change related measures into the Comprehensive-Land Use Plans.
Community Education & Outreach	Generation 180	Ongoing	Locally based organization with a national reach - helping Americans live and drive electric, go solar, and move toward clean energy solutions for all aspects of their lives.
Solarize!	LEAP	Annual	Bundles solar installation projects to reduces costs for homeowners
Home Energy Audits	LEAP	Ongoing	Comprehensive Home Energy Assessment for homeowners & renters
Free & Reduced Cost HEAs	LEAP	Ongoing	Income and age-qualified home energy assessments for homeowners & renters - available to all Dominion customers who meet the income requirements.
Low-Income Solar	LEAP	Ongoing	Up to 5kW of PV panels installed at no cost to the homeowner.
Income & Age-qualifying Weatherization	LEAP	Ongoing	Energy efficiency improvements and direct installs to homeowners and renters - available to qualifying Dominion and Charlottesville Gas Customers.
EnergySmart Rebates	LEAP	Ongoing	Rebates for Energy Efficiency Improvements to encourage homeowners to take actions
Kindlewood Redevelopment (formally Friendship Court)	Piedmont Housing Alliance	Ongoing	Baseline goals: DOE Zero Energy Ready Homes; Enterprise Green Communities; rooftops with max solar directly serving resident utility bills Aspirational goal: PHIUS Passive House
Green Business Alliance	Piedmont Housing Alliance	Ongoing	Initiatives in line with the GBA goals to reduce Scope I/II emissions
Inflation Reduction Act Bootcamp	Piedmont Housing Alliance	Ongoing	Part of cohort of nonprofits around the country learning to use IRA resources to the fullest extent possible
Policy/Advocacy	Piedmont Housing Alliance	Ongoing	Advocating for Virginia to remain in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) Successfully lobbied for solar to be included as eligible expense in Virginia Housing’s Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program
Healthy Landscapes Program	Piedmont Master Gardeners	Annual	Site visits made with recommendations based on the Eight Principles of Conservation Landscaping; working with homeowners and HOAs to create, maintain and preserve our region’s native plants and habitats for pollinators, birds and other wildlife. This includes identifying and promoting removal of invasive species, practices that clean and conserve water and manage erosion, building healthy soils with practices of composting and adding organic matter, etc.
Healthy Virginia Lawns	Piedmont Master Gardeners	Annual	The Healthy Virginia Lawns (HVL) program is a joint venture between Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Through this program, Extension Piedmont Master Gardeners provide homeowners in Albemarle County and the City of Charlottesville with science-based information on establishment and maintenance of lawns to reduce unnecessary chemical use that can harm our local waters and the Chesapeake Bay. A site visit includes soil test, lawn measurements and a Nutrient Management Plan based on the soil test. The client receives Lawn Best Management Practices and tips on how to easily shrink the lawn to make room for native species (sheet mulching, lawn alternatives, adding native shrubs, understory and canopy trees). Soil erosion issues are also addressed.
Habitat for Humanity – Home Landscaping Partnership	Piedmont Master Gardeners & Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville	Ongoing	The goal is to assist Habitat Partner Families (PF) with landscaping their new homes by providing guidance in the selection, purchase, planting, and ongoing care of the plants, including on the use of native plants and conservation landscaping practices.  We have increased use of native plants in the Habitat for Humanity landscaping to > 80%.
Plant Northern Piedmont Virginia Native Plant Campaign	Piedmont Master Gardeners in partnership with Plant Virginia Natives	Ongoing	PMG is a partner in the statewide program Plant Virginia Natives. Extension Master Gardeners adopt and work with a Garden Center to promote the native plants they carry and provide plant lists of approved NPNs to encourage them to increase the supply and variety of native plants they make available to the public.
Share Your Harvest	Piedmont Master Gardeners	Ongoing	Campaign to address the issue of food insecurity and food waste. Encourages gardeners to plan to share the bountiful harvest and not let it go to waste. Website and brochure directs you to the list of local food banks and pantries for donations as well as for those experiencing food insecurity. Provides some tips and resources surrounding the issues of food waste.
Community Education	Piedmont Master Gardeners	Ongoing	Provides mentoring, hands-on demonstrations, and research-based information and resources to the community through School Gardens, Community Garden Partners, Demonstration Gardens, Monthly Online Newsletter, Garden Basics Classes, Public Presentations, and a Public Help Desk.
Advocacy Program and Community Education	Preservation Piedmont	Ongoing	Advocate & share information with community on importance of preserving embodied carbon in existing buildings by supporting rehabilitation & weatherization of these buildings. Collaboration with partners sharing similar goals. Research & pursue energy savings grants & programs for preservation of historic properties. In managing Preservation Piedmont’s property, replace outdated systems with energy savings ones & work to remove invasive species from property. Provide design guidance for incorporating renewable energy at historic properties. Increase awareness of and support programs for historic neighborhoods that are walkable, bike-able, and transit-supported.
Neighborhood Tree Restoration	ReLeaf C'Ville	Ongoing	Working to expand Charlottesville’s tree canopy. Mostly planting on private property, with emphasis on low-canopy neighborhoods. Developing tree preservation plan for low-income neighbors (funding tree maintenance for existing trees).
Environmental Education	ReLeaf C'ville	Ongoing	Making presentations about the value of trees and nature in City schools. Helping CHS’s career fair include environmental vendors and organizations. Developing the Green Team, a group of teenaged students who meet in the summer to learn about trees, nature, and climate change. This is followed by tree planting in the Fall.
Household Food Waste Composting Program	Rivanna Solid Waste Authority	Ongoing	Diverting organics from the waste stream by offering drop-off collection of household food scraps. Available at McIntire Recycling Center and Ivy MUC.
Mulch Program	Rivanna Solid Waste Authority	Ongoing	Recycling wood waste into mulch for sale to the public to divert it from the landfill.
Earth Flag Program	Sierra Club - Piedmont Chapter	Ongoing	Recognizing and amplifying climate activists who are making a difference in our community.

Climate Action Work Plan

City of Charlottesville-led Initiatives & Programs

Community Led Initiatives and Programs

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