The EcoAdvocate

June 2022 Newsletter

Make sure that County Board members know you support higher investment in addressing climate change for a livable future for our families and for all Arlingtonians by sending an email to

countyboard@arlingtonva.us or speaking at the public hearing on the FY-2023-2032 Capital Improvement Plan on June 28 at 7:00 pm.

Weigh in on Arlington’s Ten-Year Capital Improvement Plan

The FY 2023-2032 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which will be adopted by the Arlington County Board in July, will serve as an important vehicle for the County to meet its climate and other environmental goals. EcoAction Arlington is pleased the CIP gives higher priority than in previous years to addressing climate change, energy use and natural resources resiliency, and other environmental challenges. Progress is being made to shift to electric vehicles for ART and the County’s fleet, expand rooftop solar, improve energy efficiency, and expand EV charging stations for the public. Nevertheless, the County needs to do more to meet the challenges of the rapidly unfolding climate crisis.

Carbon Neutrality for County Operations

Achieving the County’s goal for carbon neutrality means that we must stop burning fossil fuels in our vehicles and buildings and shift to renewable energy sources for our electricity. The Arlington Government needs to step forward and lead by example. To that end, EcoAction Arlington recommends that the County Board direct the County Manager to develop a plan to decarbonize County operations as rapidly as possible in line with similar commitments made by Fairfax County and other local jurisdictions. The County Board should urge APS to make a similar commitment.

A key component of this transition must be a commitment to electrification of building HVAC, hot water, and other systems and appliances in all new buildings and as systems that currently use fossil gas need replacements. Although the CIP indicates that multiple HVAC systems are scheduled for replacement, only one specifically plans for electrification. EcoAction Arlington is urging the County Board to include specific guidance establishing the strong presumption that all HVAC and domestic hot water systems and appliances installed in County-owned buildings will be electric, phasing out the use of fossil gas as quickly as feasible.

Equitable Investment in Arlington’s Natural Resources

Encouragingly, the proposed CIP recognizes that our natural resources need care and capital investments to continue to provide the important benefits of increased property values, better health outcomes, reduced heating and cooling costs, and mitigation of climate change impacts. The County is proposing a new Natural Resiliency Program aimed, at least initially, at reforestation and invasive removal in our natural areas, and restores funding for parkland acquisition. As programs move forward, EcoAction Arlington recommends that the County:

Ensure equitable access to parks and reduction in the heat island effect in low income and ethnically diverse neighborhoods that have reduced access to open spaces and have below average tree canopy coverage
Provide sufficient funding for parkland acquisition to meet the goal set in the Public Spaces Master Plan of increasing parkland by 30 acres
Prioritize projects under the Natural Resiliency Program to meet measurable County goals such the Biophilic City Resolution, greenhouse gas emission reductions, or progress toward compliance with Chesapeake Bay requirements

Read EcoAction Arlington's letter on the FY-202302024 Capital Improvement Plan

Read our tips on Demystifying Speaking at the County Board

Take Action

Join the Arlington Solar and EV Charger Co-op

Since its launch in 2015, over 400 households have participated to add solar panels to their rooftops and more recently to install EV chargers. A record 106 solar systems were installed in 2021, almost double any previous year. New members are being accepted through August 31.

Details

The EcoAdvocate is compiled by the EcoAction Arlington Advocacy Committee.

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EcoAction Arlington's mission is to promote stewardship of our natural resources and practical solutions for a sustainable community. The EcoAction Advocacy Committee engages in public discussion and promotes civic engagement among its members to influence government action to support its mission. EcoAction Arlington is a non-profit and non-partisan organization.