Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination

CONTACT INFORMATION: Our office is open to visitors by appointment only. Please call or email from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
703-324-7136 TTY 711
12000 Government Center Pkwy, Suite 533
Fairfax, VA 22035
John Morrill
Director

Fairfax Green Initiatives Finance, Budget, and Partnership Action Items

Within the Fairfax Green Initiatives #1 and Fairfax Green Initiatives #2 matrices there are a number of action items pertaining to finance, the county budget, and partnerships. These items are summarized below. This information will be updated periodically and the date of the most recent update will be noted for reference.

Capital Bonding 

Summary: The Budget Committee will discuss and consider capital bonding options that could accelerate energy saving initiatives, provide high economic returns on investments, and enable green building, energy saving renovations, and green purchasing practices.

Location in Matrix: Fairfax Green Initiatives #1, 3a

Lead Department (Partners): Department of Management and Budget

Action To Date: The County will continue to utilize all debt financing mechanisms to address its capital needs and maintain adherence to its self-imposed debt ratios. The County’s Capital Improvement Program assumes an out-year bond referenda program that incorporates LEED certification for all future project cost estimates to further the County’s commitment to green initiatives.

Status: Complete


Increased County Staff

Summary: The Budget Committee will discuss and consider supporting an increase in county staff dedicated to energy, climate change, and environmental issues.

Location in Matrix: Fairfax Green Initiatives #1, 3b

Lead Department (Partners): Department of Management and Budget

Action To Date: The FY 2020 budget included dedicated funding for the Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (established in July 2019).

Status: Complete


Grant and Cooperative Agreement Funding

Summary: The Environmental Committee will discuss and consider grant and cooperative agreement funding for energy efficiency, conservation, weatherization, cogeneration, renewable energy, energy resilience and greenhouse gas emission reductions, through public-private partnerships, foundations, the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Federal government to provide greater energy reduction support for all residents, consistent with One Fairfax.

Location in Matrix: Fairfax Green Initiatives #1, 4b

Lead Department (Partners): Department of Economic Initiatives, Department of Public Works and Environmental Services, and Government Relations

Action To Date:

The Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) receives remittances from two energy efficiency grants, which funded equipment upgrades at Noman Cole Pollution Control Plant and result in annual energy use savings of 10,399 kWh.

Grant funding from the Virginia Clean Air Communities Program is being used to purchase electric vehicles and associated charging infrastructure for county operations. These include four electric transit buses, a transit truck and four electric vehicles for Solid Waste Collection and Transport, as well as charging infrastructure for each. Staff is working to install charging infrastructure to support vehicle operations.

Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) and the Department of Economic Initiatives (DEI) were granted a one-year extension of the Relay pilot program, the autonomous electric shuttle operating in the Merrifield area, to continue to research its impacts on local ridership and transit. The project team is creating a revised route for the Relay shuttle to expand ridership and visibility.

FCDOT and DEI continue to look for funding to support the innovative research and project implementation associated with the Relay project. This type of research will further establish Fairfax County as a leader in connected autonomous vehicle technology (CAV). The team will also explore opportunities emerging from the federal Infrastructure Bill.

Status: Ongoing


Partnership Development

Summary: The County Executive will report to the Board of Supervisors on the development of partnerships, like the Department of Energy's Better Buildings Challenge.

Location in Matrix: Fairfax Green Initiatives #1, 6cv

Lead Department (Partners): Department of Economic Initiatives and the Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination

Action To Date: DEI, OEEC, university and technology partners will recruit start-ups to participate in a new Pitch and Pilot event focused on carbon neutral technology in early 2022.

DEI, FCDOT, Smart City Works, and the Center for Innovative Technology are partnered on a Bike/Ped Safety Pilot project to inform new approaches to bike/ped safety in the community. The bike/ped pilot project, being conducted by Street Simplified, is currently in the data collection stage. Analysis and recommendations are due in mid-2022.

Status: Ongoing


Energy Efficiency Funding Pool Pilot

Summary: The County Executive will report to the Environment Committee on the feasibility of creating an Energy Efficiency Funding Pool (EEFP) pilot and will consider developing a competitive grant process through Public-Private Partnerships for funding local entities to provide workforce energy efficiency and weatherization (green jobs) training opportunities while upgrading the energy efficiency on eligible low-income and seniors homes.

Location in Matrix: Fairfax Green Initiatives #2, 7a

Lead Department (Partners): Department of Economic Initiatives (Community Services Board, Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority, Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination, and the Office of Strategy Management)

Action To Date: In support of the green jobs objectives included under this item, DEI is exploring a partnership with Dominion Energy to understand their workforce needs. Dominion is interested in creating pathways to energy-related jobs from middle school on and partnering with Fairfax County in job fairs and in other workforce development activities. DEI continues to work with the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority to segment green economy sectors to understand areas of economic competitiveness.

Status: Ongoing


Fairfax Green Bank

Summary: The County Executive will report to the Environment Committee on the feasibility of creating a Fairfax Green Bank.

Location in Matrix: Fairfax Green Initiatives #2, 7b

Lead Department (Partners): Department of Finance (Department of Economic Initiatives, Department of Management and Budget, Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination, Office of the County Attorney, and Government Relations)

Action To Date: In fall 2020, the Office of the County Attorney (OCA) determined that the Board lacked enabling authority to establish a Fairfax Green Bank. At the direction of the Board, staff drafted a bill for the 2021 session of the Virginia General Assembly to enable a locality to enact an ordinance establishing a green bank. The bill (House Bill 1919), which was sponsored by Delegate Kory, and as amended to include consumer protection standards, has been signed into law. The Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination has engaged ICF International on a feasibility study for a green bank. OEEC, DEI, DOF, and OCA are contributing to this effort.


Green Retirement Fund Investments

Summary: The County Executive will report to the Board on the feasibility and legality of providing guidance to Fairfax County retirement fund managers to increase support for non-greenhouse gas emitting energy investments, local green business investments and decreasing those in fossil fuels.

Location in Matrix: Fairfax Green Initiatives #2, 8a

Lead Department (Partners): Office of the County Attorney (Retirement Administration Agency)

Action To Date: The Office of the County Attorney determined that the Board may lawfully provide guidance to Fairfax County retirement fund managers on increasing support for non-greenhouse gas emitting energy investments and decrease support for fossil fuels. However, legal difficulties could arise if mandates or limitations on investment choices are imposed.

Status: Complete

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