Now’s the Time for Arlington to
Make the Environment a Top Priority
The last year has been disruptive and filled with tragedy but there’s light at the end of the tunnel: vaccination rates are climbing and the Congress has passed a massive COVID relief bill. While our community is not out of the woods yet, now is the time for Arlington to plan for a healthier, more resilient, and more equitable future built around renewable energy, reduced carbon emissions, clean air and water, and a nature-friendly community. The County Board can embed these priorities into the FY22 budget, which starts July 1, by directing the County Manager to:
- Assign a senior manager to serve as a chief climate change and sustainability officer authorized to coordinate efforts across the County Government to implement the County’s goals for renewable energy, carbon neutrality, zero waste, and biophilia.
- Maintain funding for the Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy (AIRE) -the unit primarily responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Community Energy Plan - at the FY21 level (FY22 Budget proposes an 11 percent cut).
- Identify priority initiatives and staffing needs that can be funded as the budget situation improves and funds from federal and state programs become available, such as adding electric vehicles to the county fleet, retrofitting affordable housing for energy efficiency, protection and maintenance of the tree canopy, and deer management.
