Climate Wins!
Recent Votes Prove Albemarle and Charlottesville Ready to Lead on Climate
Just over three years after setting ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and move toward carbon neutrality, 2023 is becoming a year of impressive climate action for Charlottesville and Albemarle County. Hard work followed those early commitments in research, collaboration, and planning. But with plans in place, action should follow, and both localities have stepped up to the challenge.
Albemarle Embraces Clean Energy Generation
According to C3’s estimates, the Woodridge Solar development will generate enough clean energy to power 30,000 homes — more than half of households in Albemarle County. On April 5, 2023, Albemarle County Supervisors voted unanimously to approve the project.
“What energy do we generate in Albemarle County? Basically none. We use a lot, but we don’t generate much,” said Albemarle County Board Chair Donna Price. In her closing remarks, Price noted that Albemarle County is 726 square miles or 465,000 acres. She calculated that the Woodridge project sits on a 2,250-acre plot, of which 1,500 acres will be impacted, and covers just 200 acres of land with panels. “This is 1/2,325 of the County to produce enough energy for half the County,” she continued. “I am very pleased to support it.”
Approval of this project is the single most impactful climate decision Albemarle County has made. C3’s analysis shows that this project will offset GHG emissions equivalent to 8% of Albemarle County’s annual footprint. It also demonstrates a County ready to take responsibility for its energy consumption and associated impacts. Other localities should take note and follow Albemarle’s leadership.
Charlottesville Moves Beyond Planning
A recent vote by the City Council in the neighboring City of Charlottesville unanimously overturned an anti-solar decision by the City’s own Board of Architectural Review (BAR). The BAR recently denied a rooftop solar installation on the First United Methodist Church, citing code for the downtown historic architectural district last updated in 2003.
“I think this whole saga has done more to hurt the cause of historic preservation than anything in recent memory because it has now created an impression among a lot of people in the community that this is a body that is oblivious to the big picture and is throwing up barriers to renewable energy,” said City Councilor Michael Payne. “It is going to take a long time to recover from that reputational damage in the community.”
The City then followed this decision by allocating nearly $5 million to climate action in its fiscal year 2023/2024 budget, including:
$1 Million to implement the City's new Climate Action Plan
$600,000 for LED streetlight conversions
Two new climate-focused staff positions
$100,000 for tree planting + $75,000 for invasive plant removal
$3 million in new funding for Charlottesville Area Transit to increase route frequency
By investing in climate, Charlottesville is getting ready to capitalize on even more opportunities for action. Charlottesville’s budget allocations can provide a local match to forthcoming grant opportunities from the federal Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. More climate action in Charlottesville should be right around the corner.
What’s next?
Faced with tangible decisions that will lower GHG emissions in Charlottesville and Albemarle County, local staff and decision-makers are proving they are ready to lead. Hopefully, that trend will continue. Albemarle County is amid its annual budgeting process, zoning update, and Comprehensive Plan revision. Charlottesville is set to conclude its zoning update this year to create a more affordable, walkable, and human-scale community. All of these can positively impact our climate, but it will take all of us to keep our community headed in the right direction. To get involved in our advocacy efforts, sign up for our email list or contact policy@theclimatecollaborative.org.