Charlottesville’s decarbonization study available for review

While the Trump administration cracks down on spending for any program with the phrase “climate change”, many states and localities are continuing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to advance an international initiative to reduce the rate of global warming.

That includes the City of Charlottesville which in January released the final version of a study conducted by Black and Veatch to suggest ways to decarbonize the city’s utilities department.

The City of Charlottesville has had a natural gas utility since 1876.

“Currently, Charlottesville Gas provides natural gas services to over 21,000 customers including nearly 20 industrial customers, over 2,300 commercial customers, and approximately 19,000 residential customers in both the city and in the county,” reads the report.

Both Albemarle, Charlottesville, and the University of Virginia have all pledged to reduce emissions by 45 percent by 2030 and be fossil-free by 2050.

The report notes that Charlottesville’s distribution system is relatively new with a pipeline replacement having occurred in the 1990’s. The city received a $7.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for the replacement of some of the remaining cast iron pipes. That project came from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which passed the U.S. House of Representatives on November 5, 2021 on a 228 to 206 vote.

“Unlike investor-owned utilities, Charlottesville Gas rates are developed on a break-even basis to ensure that the utility has sufficient funds to sustain operations. Charlottesville Gas rates are approved by the Charlottesville City Council to ‘furnish reasonably adequate service and facilities at reasonable and just rates’ consistent with Code of Virginia §56-234,” the report continues.

One possible outcome is that the city sell the utility to a private company. The Virginia General Assembly adopted legislation in 2022 that would require customers to be given a three-year notice of any potential sale. The executive summary notes that the only viable buyer is likely Columbia Gas, and that the study did not go into further detail.

The report does evaluate several other strategies such as continuing to offer rebates to utility customers. The 123-page report also notes that Charlottesville is one of the first municipal utilities to undertake such a study. The executive summary concludes by saying more study is needed.

“The analyses performed in this study should be leveraged and built upon to further assess and finalize decarbonization strategies to optimize and balance investment,” reads page 14.

The city has already taken one step since the study was commissioned. Last summer, City Council agreed to levy a $340 fee for new connections. Previously no such maybe was required.

Before you go: This post and all of the others are intended to increase awareness about the role local government plays in American democracy, especially in and around Charlottesville. This was originally sent out in the February 17, 2025 edition of the Charlottesville Community Engagement newsletter. If you would like to support the work, you can buy a paid subscription or support through Patreon.