Our Campaigns
Our Wins
Charlottesville Area Transit Set to Zero Emissions by 2040
C3 was a key advocate to put CAT on the road to becoming a zero-emission transit agency by 2040!
Act on Climate!
Challenge:
Advocating for Charlottesville City council to choose zero-emission buses (ZEBs) for Charlottesville Area Transit (CAT)'s fuel technology and ensure workforce investments for ZEB operation and maintenance.
Action:
In addition to C3’s educational efforts and advocacy at public city CAT meetings, the organization delivered a petition to City Council signed by nearly 650 residents and 25 organizations and businesses in support of zero-emission buses.
This collective community advocacy played a significant role in shaping the future of Charlottesville’s public transportation.
Outcome:
In 2024, Charlottesville City Council gave the green light to Charlottesville Area Transit (CAT) to focus its alternative fuel transition plan exclusively on zero-emission buses powered by Virginia’s electrical grid or cleaner sources. This victory would not have happened without the power of community advocacy.
City of Charlottesville Creates Climate Action Plan
C3’s advocacy led to a new climate action plan set to improve community infrastructure and reduce emissions.
City of Charlottesville Staff and Community Award Winners at ‘24 C3 Party for the Planet
Challenge:
Charlottesville adopted its Climate Action Plan in early 2023. The plan gives the community a roadmap to decarbonize while recognizing the connections between climate and social justice issues. Many of C3’s recommendations were included in the plan, including several that we built with our social justice partners.
Action:
Combining our climate expertise with the expertise of our partnerson affordable housing, zoning reform, mobility, and food justice, C3 facilitated the development of joint policy platforms. In all, more than 20 organizations collaborated to deliver the final recommendations.
Outcome:
Charlottesville adopted its Climate Action Plan in early 2023. The plan gives the community a roadmap to decarbonize while recognizing the connections between climate and social justice issues. Many of C3’s recommendations were included in the plan, including several that we built with our social justice partners. C3 facilitated the development of joint policy platforms: Climate Justice and Energy Equity; Equitable Decarbonization of Charlottesville Gas; Accessible, Clean Transportation; Boosting Climate Solutions through Food Justice; and Climate Smart and Equitable Zoning. In all, more than 20 organizations collaborated to deliver the final recommendations.
Community Letter with support of 20 local organizations and over 300 resident signatures.
Woodridge Solar Project
C3 put our Solar Climate Justice Scorecard to the test to analyze and advocate for a proposed solar project in Woodridge, VA.
C3 and Hexagon Energy
Map of the proposed solar site featured in C3 Woodridge Analysis Report.
Challenge:
In 2023, C3 advocated to support the development of a utility-scale solar farm proposed by Hexagon Energy, a clean energy developer and Green Business Alliance member based in Charlottesville, Virginia. The farm was proposed to be built on a timber plantation outside of Woodridge, Virginia, which presented a significant opportunity for Albemarle County to make an unprecedented contribution to reducing local greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Considering community benefits, we urged County Supervisors to grant Hexagon Energy a special-use permit to add solar to the Woodridge site and support our local community and global climate health.
Action:
Using the C3 Solar Climate Justice Scorecard, we analyzed the positive environmental, economic, and climate justice impacts of the project. Specifically, the Scorecard assessed the extent to which the proposed Hexagon Energy’s Woodridge Solar Project aligns with best practices in (i) procedural justice, (i) distributional justice, (ii)restorative justice, and (iv) other socio-economic and environmental factors.
In addition to our analysis, C3 delivered a community letter to County Board Supervisors with nearly 500 signatures from community partners and county residents supporting the project.
Outcome:
In April of 2023, the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors voted to move forward with the Woodridge Solar Project. The Woodridge Solar Farm will be the largest in the state, and will provide enough energy to power 25,000 homes - the equivalent of more than half of Albemarle County’s 45,000 homes - for the next 35 years.
Community letter with nearly 500 signatures supporting The Project.
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