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Category Archives: Environmental Issues

Albemarle offering $100K in grants for Climate Action

Posted on March 9, 2023 by Sean Tubbs Leave a comment

Do you work for a group that may have a project that you think could demonstrate ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions? Albemarle County has announced a grant program to encourage innovation as a way to meet the goals to reduce emissions from fossil fuels to zero by 2050.

“Projects can contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in transportation, buildings, waste, agriculture, and natural areas,” reads the website. “Projects can also contribute to increasing carbon sequestration in agriculture or natural systems.”

Natural Heritage Committee chair, Cultivate Charlottesville honored with UVA Sustainability Award

Posted on March 3, 2023 by Sean Tubbs Leave a comment

A University of Virginia committee that promotes environmental issues has honored the chair of Albemarle County’s Natural Heritage Committee. The UVA Sustainability Committee has given a 2022 Sustainability Leadership Award to Christine Hirsh-Putnam for her work in the community. Albemarle Supervisor Jim Andrews recognized the recognition on Wednesday.

“She is described as a super citizen, she co-chairs the county’s Solid Waste Alternatives Advisory Committee and leads its outreach, communications, and education subcommittee,” Andrews said. “As this announcement reads, Christine is a subtle genius in inspiring sustainable habits in Albemarle County. She now only sows the seeds of inspiration on these committees but always waters them day after day with her time and energy.”

Environmental Issues

Charlottesville handing out free trees to utility customers

Posted on March 1, 2023 by Sean Tubbs Leave a comment

For the second year in a row, the city’s Department of Utilities is partnering with the Arbor Day Foundation to hand out 200 free trees as part of a strategic planting.

“Properly planted trees can reduce the amount of energy a home requires to remain comfortable by providing a barrier to cold winter winds and delivering shade in the summer,” reads the press release sent out this morning. “When planted properly, a single tree that grows over time can save a homeowner up to 20% on energy costs.”

Interested parties can submit a request for a tree through a reservation portal. Available varieties are Serviceberry, Black Gum, Ironwood, Willow Oak, and Tulip Poplar. Pick-ups can begin as soon as March 6.

Before you go: The time to write and research of this article is covered by paid subscribers to Charlottesville Community Engagement. In fact, this particular installment comes from the March 1, 2023 edition of the program. To ensure this research can be sustained, please consider becoming a paid subscriber or contributing monthly through Patreon.

Environmental Issues

Reusable bag program still on despite sourcing issues

Posted on November 21, 2022 by Sean Tubbs Leave a comment

Charlottesville has canceled a request for quotations for a firm to provide reusable bags for eligible community members.

“Specifically, none of the bidders were able to meet the delivery date stated within the solicitation,” reads the memo sent out last week by Procurement and Risk Management Services.

Virginia Supreme Court rules in favor of utility charge for carbon reduction

Posted on October 31, 2022 by Sean Tubbs Leave a comment

The State Corporation Commission acted lawfully when it approved a request from the Virginia Electric and Power Company to add a surcharge to utility bills to cover the costs of purchasing carbon allowances in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative auctions. That’s according to an opinion yesterday by the Virginia Supreme Court.

“Though highly complex in its details, the [Carbon Dioxide] Budget Trading Program relies on a basic economic thesis: CO2 emissions can be reduced over time by making those responsible for them pay for the right to emit,” reads the opinion by Justice D. Arthur Kelsey.

Charlottesville to spend $20K on reusable bags for those on benefits

Posted on October 25, 2022 by Sean Tubbs Leave a comment

In their final action at their meeting on October 17, 2022, Charlottesville City Council held first reading on an item to spend $20,000 to purchase reusable bags for those on federal or state benefits. The 2020 General Assembly authorized localities in Virginia to authorize a 5 cent tax on plastic bags.

“We along with Albemarle County will be launching that January 1,” said Deputy City Manager Sam Sanders. “We continue to work closely with the county to make sure that our efforts are in alignment with theirs because our residents move back and forth between the city and the county, we want to ensure that there’s no real concern in regards to understanding what’s different whatever we may be doing so our goal is to try to do it in conjunction with another.”

City crews preparing to remove some Downtown Mall trees

Posted on October 24, 2022 by Sean Tubbs Leave a comment

Later this week, the city’s Parks and Recreation Department will hold an information meeting on removing some of the trees on Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall. Riann Anthony is the deputy director of the department.

“We are very lucky that the Downtown Mall trees have been in existence for this long,” Anthony said. “Some of them are healthy and others are not healthy but per our urban forester is that all of the trees are stressed from a number of factors.”

Solar policy subject of Rivanna River conference

Posted on September 28, 2022 by Sean Tubbs Leave a comment

Do you or someone you know have an interest in the connections between how land is used and the water quality of rivers and streams? Tomorrow, an entity called the Rivanna River Basin Commission (RRBC) is putting on its seventh annual conference.

“The purpose of this conference really is to promote the environmental stewardship and equity of the basin and the region as we transition into more renewable energy sources,” said Isabella O’Brien, environmental planner at the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission. “As well as to provide a forum for local governments, staff, and the public as well to learn more about this growing topic of solar.”

UVA continues to use coal as a backup to Charlottesville gas

Posted on September 27, 2022 by Sean Tubbs Leave a comment

As the temperatures get colder, thoughts of many turn to how homes and businesses will be heated in the winter months. The University of Virginia continues to burn coal for a portion of the year to supplement the natural gas it purchases from the city of Charlottesville.

The topic came up at the end of the University of Virginia Board of Visitors’ Buildings and Grounds Committee on September 15. University of Virginia Architect Alice Raucher provided an overview of UVA’s sustainability goals.

“The big goal of course is carbon neutrality by 2030 and fossil-fuel free by 2050,” said Alice Raucher, the University of Virginia architect.

Youngkin administration outlines plan to leave cap-and-trade system

Posted on September 1, 2022 by Sean Tubbs 2 comments

Governor Glenn Youngkin has renewed efforts to remove Virginia from an interstate compact intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Within an hour of taking office in January, Youngkin issued several executive orders including one seeking departure from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

However, the Republican governor was unable to leave without the General Assembly’s approval as party control is split across both Houses. Now, however, Youngkin’s appointees now have the edge on the seven-member State Air Pollution Control Board and he sent acting Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources Travis Boyles to outline the new plan to withdraw from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).

“RGGI is a bad deal for Virginia,” Voyles said. “Whether you agree with the framework and principles of a cap-and-trade system, the way RGGI has been implemented in Virginia does not work as an effective means for greenhouse gas reductions,” Voyles said.

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