Fairfax County has shelved plans to create a “green bank,” instead redirecting those funds to a new initiative that offers residents educational and technical support to make their homes more energy efficient.
The Board of Supervisors voted on June 11 to reallocate $638,955 initially designated for the green bank — a publicly financed institution that facilitates funding for residential and commercial clean energy projects — to a new pilot program called Electrify Fairfax.
The reasons for pausing the green bank program remain unclear, but a spokesperson for the Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC) said county staff will continue to monitor green bank initiatives across the country.
Meanwhile, the funds initially allocated for the green bank will be redirected to third-party vendors or contractors to assist homeowners with green energy projects.
“There are existing organizations that already assist homeowners with energy projects that we are looking into, in addition to programs in DC, Maryland, and elsewhere,” they said.
At the board’s June 11 meeting, Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw stated that he and county staff believe the new pilot program is a more effective strategy to help Fairfax County achieve its goal of being carbon neutral by 2050.
“We believe that funds previously appropriated by the Board of Supervisors for the establishment of a green bank can be better and more immediately utilized, while staff continues to monitor Regional State and National Green Bank developments and funding opportunities,” he said.
Spring District Supervisor Pat Herrity was the sole board member to vote against the proposal, arguing that although Electrify Fairfax might be beneficial, the un-obligated funds should instead be used to alleviate the tax burden for next year’s budget.
“As everybody on this dais knows, we went through a very difficult budget process and we’ve got one that is looking to be even more difficult next year,” he said.
The OEEC proposed the pilot program in response to many homeowners seeking advice on increasing their homes’ energy efficiency.
According to department staff, many homeowners came seeking advice on installing solar panels, converting appliances to electricity and navigating available federal and utility incentives.
Residents in Arlington and Alexandria have voiced similar concerns to their local leaders, highlighting that transitioning to home electrification is a complex and costly process that demands considerable expertise to navigate effectively.
The county currently supports several initiatives to promote renewable energy use and sustainability among residents, including home energy rebates, electric vehicle charging, and solar panel programs.
In its most recent climate progress update, the county reported that its residential solar panel initiative has successfully equipped around 425 homes with solar systems. Additionally, electric vehicles (EVs) account for 1.9% of the county’s vehicle registrations. The county aims to increase that to 15% by 2030.
As of July 2023, Fairfax County purchased 306 hybrid and electric vehicles (2% of its total fleet), retrofitted at least 37,633 housing units with energy efficiency improvements and reduced government greenhouse gas emissions by 20% compared to 2018.
Still, local government operations represent just a fraction of a locality’s overall emissions, and the report noted the county needs to “lead by example” in order to meet its future goals.
The county’s timeline for reducing its carbon emissions is further complicated by a dispute with Dominion Energy concerning the requirements for smaller renewable energy developers to connect to the grid.
Last month, the board sent a letter to the State Corporation Commission (SCC) requesting an evaluation of whether the requirements imposed by Dominion create unnecessary hurdles for renewable energy developers, potentially jeopardizing future projects.
The rollout date, duration and cost of the Electrify Fairfax pilot haven’t been announced. But Walkinshaw expressed confidence that the program could make a difference in helping the county progress toward its climate goals.
“I look forward to our pilot program, Electrify Fairfax, to empower residents with resources and educational materials for home energy improvements,” he told FFXnow in an email following the board meeting. “Whether it’s making energy efficiency improvements, installing solar energy systems, or converting appliances from natural gas to electricity, every change contributes to reducing our individual environmental impacts.”
Photo via Bill Mead on Unsplash
