Passed Legislation

Resolutions

Organized by legislative body; Find reports, resolutions, goals, and other, similarly long documents here.

Charlottesville
University of Virginia

Albemarle County Resolution

Albemarle voted to adopt GHG emission reduction targets of 45% by 2030 and ‘net zero’ by 2050.

Charlottesville Climate Action Work Plan

Charlottesville recently published their 2023 Climate Action Work plan, covering a variety of actions aimed at reducing CO2 emissions and creating a greener city.

Read what they said

UVA Climate Action and Goals

The University plans to be carbon neutral by 2030 and fossil fuel free by 2050, as part of their 2030 Great And Good Plan. In 2022, UVA dedicated 60 million dollars to climate change solutions. For now, UVA answers most questions about their plan by saying the situations are being monitored and they are prioritizing “strategies which aggressively reduce carbon emissions”. But what does that mean for climate action, and where is all that money being spent?

Read the CAP

UVA Sustainability Annual Report 2023–2024

The University continues to take steps towards sustainability, including adding solar panels and reducing waste.

Source: UVA Sustainability Annual Report 2023–2024

Read the Report

Recent Local Actions

For less recent local action, read here. Otherwise, visit our archive page.

Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy Program (C-Pace)

November 4, 2024
Charlottesville has adopted the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program, which provides financing for commercial and industrial property owners to make environmentally sustainable improvements. Through C-PACE, property owners can access low-cost, long-term financing for upgrades such as energy efficiency, renewable energy systems (like solar panels), water efficiency, and resilience measures. Repayments are made through a special assessment added to property taxes. The program recently expanded to include additional project types, such as grid resiliency, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, stormwater management, indoor air quality, and environmental remediation. C-PACE can also be used to refinance previously completed projects.

Free Trees for Charlottesville

February 28, 2024
The Charlottesville Department of Utilities is bringing back the Arbor Day Foundation’s Energy-Saving Trees Program, now offering free trees to city residents twice a year. After the success of the spring event, they’re giving away another 100 trees this October. These trees—like white oak, river birch, and American hornbeam—are meant to be planted strategically around homes to save energy, lower utility bills, and offer environmental benefits like better air quality and stormwater management. Residents can reserve one tree per address, with reservations starting October 7th on a first-come, first-served basis. The program’s online portal helps homeowners choose the best spots to plant for maximum energy savings. Before planting, participants must contact Virginia 811 to mark buried utility lines for safety. For more details or to sign up, residents can visit the Arbor Day Foundation’s portal or reach out to Utilities Outreach at utilitiesoutreach@charlottesville.gov.

Other Legislation to Know

Green Incentives (Charlottesville)

Charlottesville offers several rebates, tax incentives, and financial incentives to promote green and energy-efficient practices among residents and businesses:

Energy Efficiency Rebates: Through partnerships with local utilities, Charlottesville offers rebates for residents who make energy-efficient upgrades to their homes. These can include rebates for insulation, air sealing, energy-efficient windows, and high-efficiency HVAC systems. The goal is to help reduce energy consumption and lower utility bills.
Solar Energy Incentives: Charlottesville provides property tax exemptions for solar energy systems installed on residential or commercial properties. Additionally, the city participates in state and federal solar incentive programs, such as the Virginia Solar Energy Tax Credit and the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which can cover a portion of the installation costs. These tax incentives help reduce the upfront cost of solar energy installations.
Stormwater Management Fee Reductions: Property owners who implement approved stormwater management practices (e.g., rain gardens, permeable pavement, green roofs) may be eligible for reduced stormwater fees. The city offers financial incentives for installing systems that help manage runoff, improve water quality, and reduce pollution.
Green Building and LEED Incentives: Charlottesville offers fee reductions and expedited permitting for developers and property owners who build or retrofit to meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards. These incentives encourage the construction of energy-efficient, sustainable buildings in both commercial and residential projects.
Electric Vehicle (EV) Incentives: Although specific rebates for electric vehicles may vary, the city encourages the installation of EV charging stations by offering potential grants or incentives for businesses and homeowners who install them. Additionally, Virginia offers a state tax credit for EV purchases and home charging equipment.

Read more about your eligibility for these programs

Incentives and Rebates

Inflation Reduction Act (Federal, 2022)

Clean Energy Tax Credits: The IRA extends the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and Production Tax Credit (PTC) for renewable energy projects, including solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass. These tax credits incentivize investment in large-scale renewable energy production and residential solar installations.

Residential Clean Energy Rebates: Homeowners can receive up to 30% tax credits for the installation of clean energy technologies, such as solar panels, energy-efficient windows, electric heat pumps, and battery storage systems. It also includes a $7,500 rebate for purchasing new electric vehicles (EVs) and a $4,000 rebate for used EVs.

Energy Efficiency and Electrification: The IRA provides funding for programs that offer rebates for energy-efficient home improvements, including upgrading insulation, replacing old HVAC systems, and installing electric stoves and water heaters. It also promotes home electrification, transitioning from fossil-fuel-based systems to clean electricity.

Environmental Justice Funding: $3 billion is allocated to climate justice initiatives that support communities disproportionately affected by pollution. This includes funding for clean energy projects in low-income neighborhoods and improving air quality.

Carbon Capture and Storage: The IRA extends tax credits for carbon capture technologies that capture CO2 emissions from industrial sources, incentivizing investments in carbon capture and sequestration to reduce emissions from hard-to-decarbonize industries.

Find out more about Charlottesville and the IRA

Check back later for more!