2017 Year in Review Northern Virginia Regional Commission

Solarize NoVA

Our Solarize NoVA campaign continues to be a success with more than 4,000 families signing up over the past three years. To date, more than 1.3 MW of new solar projects with a contract value in excess of $4.2 million have been installed utilizing Virginia-based contractors.

Falls Church Mayor, David Tarter (center), accepts the Solar Cup trophy from City of Fairfax Mayor David Meyer and NVRC Chairman and Vienna Mayor Laurie DiRocco on winning a friendly competition related to the Solarize campaign. NVRC's local governments have been active participants in the Solarize campaign. The Mayors were joined by fellow Council Members and local staff who helped coordinate efforts within their localities.

NoVA's Solar Market is Booming

The number of solar arrays in Northern Virginia have more than doubled since 2013 and 2017 appears to be another banner year for new solar arrays in the region.

2018 has the potential of being an even stronger year as it is the second to last year the Federal Investment Tax Credit remains at the 30% level. Fall campaigns are already underway in the region.

Solar Map Wins Statewide Award

NVRC's solar map won a statewide award from the Virginia Association for Planning District Commissions for its innovation in permitting property owners in the region understand the solar potential of their home or building. In just one year more than 12,000 unique visitors have utilized the map.

Sustainable Energy Planning report

NVRC completed a report outlining sustainable energy planning undertaken in the region and possible steps to be taken in the future.

FOUR MILE RUN RESTORATION PROJECT

NVRC has played an important role in the region working with the County of Arlington and the City of Alexandria in coordinating this multi-jurisdictional project. The City Alexandria recently won an award from the Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association Virginia for their portion of the project.

The restoration project is coming to a close with the anticipated ribbon cutting for the Arlington portion of the project in the Fall.

Increasing Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

NVRC staff worked with local jurisdictions throughout the region, Washington, D.C. and Maryland to provide a comprehensive list of potential locations for electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure to be installed as part of the Electrify America program.

This program will be a multi-year program requiring coordination by local governments, business, NGOs and NVRC to ensure the Region is well positioned for the fast growing EV market.

Plant NoVA Natives

Our Plant NoVA Natives Campaign continues to grow with more than 100 volunteers who share information regarding the environmental value of native plants. The program helps localities with respect to stormwater education which is a requirement of their permit from the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The grant supporting this program expires at the end of the calendar year 2017. As such, NVRC has entered into an agreement with the Community Foundation of Northern Virginia to help raise private sector funds to continue to promote this important project in the region.

Ryan White and HOPWA HIV/AIDS Funding

We provide services to 2,179 people annually. Our client's characteristics are:

  • 84% were virally suppressed i.e. unlikely to transmit HIV to others.
  • 55% were age 45 or older.
  • No HIV+ babies were born to HIV+ mothers!

Keeping Our Waterways Clean

NVRC is pleased to coordinate the Clean Water Partners campaign to help our local government partners meet their public education requirements for their MS4 (storm water) permits.

The Northern Virginia Clean Water Partners represent 19 Northern Virginia local governments, school systems, independent water and sanitary sewer authorities, and local businesses that care about the quality of our waterways and the region’s quality of life.

Community, Military & Federal Facility Partnership

NVRC continues to host region-wide meetings among public and private sector personnel to coordinate activities as to where local governments can partner with federal entities and the private sector to meet needs.

CyberSecurity Needs

As the result of the meetings of the Partnership, a CyberSecurity workgroup has formed to address the multiple issues related to having an adequate and well-trained supply of cyber security personnel and taking the steps necessary with the region's public school divisions to ensure teachers are adequately trained and private sector experts are available to students in the Middle and High School years to help foster further interest.

NVRC Commissioners and staff received a briefing at the Inova Center for Personalized Health to learn of the services to be provided on the campus and their future workforce needs.

Potomac River Commuter Ferry Service

MARAD Grant Received

NVRC was awarded a grant from the Maritime Administration (MARAD) to undertake an environmental analysis of the impact of a commuter ferry service between Woodbridge, Virginia and the District of Columbia. The study is ongoing and is due to be completed in December 2017.

Providing a Forum for Important Regional Issues

NVRC plays an important role in providing a forum to discuss and propose solutions to regional issues as well as provide information regarding pedestrian/bike safety, resiliency and industrial waste training for our local government partners.

Protecting the Chesapeake Bay and our drinking water supply

NVRC staff chair the U.S. EPA Chesapeake Bay Program Urban Stormwater Workgroup and play a leadership role across multiple State and Federal agencies impacting the quantity and quality of drinking water in the region. Such activities include:

  • Urban Stormwater
  • WorkgroupWater Quality Goal
  • Implementation TeamWatershed
  • Technical Workgroup
  • Modeling Workgroup Virginia DEQ BMP Clearinghouse
  • Total Maximum Daily Pollutant Load Implementation Plan for the 4 Mile Run Watershed

Community Partnerships

Working with such organizations like AARP and Inova Trauma Services, NVRC is able to bring value to the community via its Pedestrian/Bicycle Safety grant from the Department of Motor Vehicles sharing relevant information to a broad audience.

NVRC Staff joined with Inova Trauma Services to share safety information with the employees of the Patent and Trade Office and their families.

Credits:

Created with images by Purplehorse - "sunset chesapeake bay water"

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