In addition to ranked choice voting, City Council will be discussing budget tonight…

RVA Clean Energy and Climate Justice Budget Recommendations

Richmond’s proposed FY2023 budget is at odds with the Climate and Ecological Emergency resolution that the city unanimously passed just 6 months ago and with the city’s commitment to equity and justice. Climate change is not listed as a priority in the introduction, and the budget takes no meaningful steps to mitigate heat island effects or tree inequity impacts, nor does it offer solutions to reduce emissions, or phase out the city’s reliance on fossil gas.

For more details on these budget recommendations see the FY2023 Proposed Budget – Fossil Gas and Electrification Highlights document.

FACILITIES
Facilities account for 45% of the City Government’s emissions. The City should immediately deploy energy efficiency upgrades, heat pumps, and renewables, while creating a clean energy and resiliency plan to power all government facilities with 100% renewables and batteries and replace all fossil fuel heating with efficient heat pumps.
Deploy energy efficiency upgrades citywide to minimize the energy needed for heating and cooling
Replace all fossil fuel heating, cooling, and water heaters with efficient heat pumps
Put solar + batteries on all eligible facilities getting a new roof
Put solar + batteries in all locations in need of a new generator
Replace all end of life HVAC equipment (boilers, furnaces, chillers, A/C) with modern air source heat pumps

RICHMOND GAS WORKS
The City Council’s Climate and Ecological Emergency Resolution calls for “an equitable plan to phase out reliance on gas and shift to accelerated investment in City-owned renewable energy” and “recognizes that the continued operation of the City’s gas utility is an obstacle to the City’s goal of Net-Zero emissions in accordance with Resolution No. 2020-R024.” Although there is state legislation pending (HB1257) that could limit the City’s actions regarding Richmond Gas Works (RGW), the following recommendations would still be permissible and would result in greater transparency into the operations of RGW. A robust board or commission charged with oversight of the RGW would benefit City Council (and the public) in making informed decisions regarding the transition of the RGW to a sustainable energy utility. For example, fossil gas leaks from aging infrastructure are a serious health and safety risk, as well as a lost gas expense that has not been adequately addressed.
Additionally, if the City, state and our country are serious about meeting the 45% in GHG emissions by 2030 and net-zero by 2050, the city should be concerned about the cost to ratepayers and the City of stranded assets if RGW continues to make major capital investments beyond basic maintenance. An oversight board or commission could stay abreast of best practices being implemented by fossil gas utilities around the country and provide the City Administration and Council with better information and options in the necessary transition away from reliance on fossil gas.
Establish more effective oversight of RGW
Explore how RGW can help residents, particularly low-income and underserved populations, electrify and weatherize their homes through various investments (such as neighborhood electrification) and financing mechanisms (such as on bill financing)
Analyze how the total lifecycle costs of electrification for households compares with rising fossil gas costs, and how rising fossil gas costs affect energy insecurity
Enable a just transition for workers at RGW
Repair all leaks while minimizing maintenance
Stop extending pipelines and other gas infrastructure
Holistically account for the cost of emissions and health effects of fossil gas combustion on air pollution inside and outside the home
Explore converting the utility into a sustainable energy utility to align the utility with the City’s emissions, health, and equity goals
Health Note: One of the clearest signals emerging in the scientific literature is the connection between cooking with gas and childhood asthma—a disease suffered by people of color and lower-income groups at much higher rates than the rest of the population. Children exposed to higher levels of indoor NO2 had an elevated risk of respiratory illness.

OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY
Establish effective Key Performance Indicators and mandate all agencies integrate these KPIs into their planning and budgeting processes.
50% renewable energy by 2023 and 100% by 2025 (as the Mayor promised in his 2021 State of the City address)
% of City government energy use powered by on-site renewables
% of fossil fuel HVAC infrastructure replaced
% of fossil fuel generators replaced
% of City fleet replaced with electric or renewable powered vehicles and bicycles

FLEET
As a part of the City’s plan to address the climate emergency, the City should transition to all electric vehicles (EV).
Create a plan to transition to all electric vehicles
Build charging infrastructure for the city’s EV fleet
Make purchases based on total lifecycle costs to account for fuel cost
Purchase EVs or ebikes for the budgeted 97 new Police Department cruisers (a number of cities are using Tesla 3s, VW id4s, and Kia Niros as police vehicles)
Purchase electric vehicles or fire trucks for the budgeted 5 new Fire Department vehicles
Purchase or subscribe to electric school buses to avoid the health risks of diesel fumes on children’s health

URBAN FOREST
Reinstate the Urban Forestry Commission to provide guidance and support for the city to maintain and enhance tree populations with the goal of improving the urban environment. Responsibilities include updating the city’s tree ordinance, reviewing remediation policies, and educating the public on urban forests.
Fund two new positions in the Urban Forestry Division, including an Urban Forester position. The urban forester will lead the creation of an Urban Forest Master Plan, including a roadmap for how the City of Richmond will achieve the 60% canopy goal set in the Richmond 300 Master Plan.
Develop an Urban Forestry Master Plan to increase citywide tree canopy cover to at least 60%. The strategic plan will protect and expand tree resources with desired outcomes of the community and incorporate the RVAgreen2050 plan, RVAH20 objectives and priorities outlined in the city’s Equity Agenda.
Increase funding for tree maintenance and watering to ensure trees can grow to maturity, provide maximum ecological services and improve public safety.
Triple the budget for contract work so Richmond can scale up tree operations for tree planting, care and maintenance.
Increase the city’s planting budget to achieve canopy goals set in Richmond 300 Master plan and account for outdated fee structure within the Adopt-A-Tree program.
Expand the Adopt-A-Tree program for community organizations to buy trees in bulk and commit to steward the trees.
In addition, we recommend that the Department of Parks and Recreation fund it’s community gardening program, Richmond Grows Gardens (250k) yearly for food justice, nutrition education and climate resiliency programming.
The Department of Public Works and/or DPU fund community engaged, Stormwater BMPs in formerly redlined neighborhoods within public green space in South Richmond. (500k) yearly.
The Office of Community Wealth Building with the Department of Social Services (SNAPET & TANF) fund community urban agriculture and solar power installation training and ad workforce development in formerly redlined neighborhoods in South Richmond. (250k)

FUNDING SOURCES
The federal government has numerous grant and loan programs to subsidize electrification and decarbonization. Richmond should make full use of these resources to meet our emissions, health, and equity goals as well as provide responsible fiscal stewardship of City resources.
US DOE: Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program was refunded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) with $550 million, 68% of which can be directly distributed to cities and counties to improve energy efficiency and invest in renewable energy.
US DOT: BUILD Transportation Discretionary Grant: Includes integrated electric fleet, electrified transit, and charging solutions
USDA: Community Facilities: Program to include microgrids, on-site renewable energy, electrification retrofits, and urban greening
US EPA: Brownfields grant and loan programs to include brightfields deployment and interconnection
US DOE: WAP and HHS: LIHEAP to prioritize upgrades that promote beneficial electrification.
Energy Cost Savings Assistance: Low-income residents can obtain $5,000-$25,000 worth of energy improvements on their homes. Funds come from Federal Weatherization, RGGI, and Dominion programs.
NFWF Small Watershed Grants: Funds available to assist the development of a health tree canopy, with grants up to $500K.
Virginia Environmental Endowment: Offers grants for water quality, land stewardship, and outreach.
Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund: Offers grants for projects with positive, tangible benefits to the Bay and the Bay program.
The Department of Forestry Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program: Encourages projects that promote the protection and enhancement of urban and community forest ecosystems, tree planting, the care of trees, and education on tree issues.
The Department of Forestry Trees for Clean Water Grant Program: Encourage the creation of long-term, sustained canopy cover to improve water-quality across the commonwealth.

THE FOLLOWING RICHMOND ORGANIZATIONS ENDORSE THE CLEAN ENERGY AND CLIMATE JUSTICE BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS:
Center for Common Ground
Chesapeake Climate Action Network – Central Va
Citizens Climate Lobby – Richmond Chapter
Climate Changemakers
Divest RVA
Ellwood Thompson’s Local Market
Extinction Rebellion – Richmond
Friends of Rattlesnake Creek
Green New Deal Virginia
Groundwork RVA
Happily Natural Day
Partnership for Smarter Growth
Richmond Teachers For Climate Justice
Richmond Tree Stewards
RVA Interfaith Climate Justice League
Sierra Club, Falls of the James Group
Southside Releaf
Sunrise Richmond
Sunrise Virginia
The Climate Mobilization
Th!rd Act
Virginia Clinicians for Climate Action
Virginia Interfaith Power and Light