Arlington continues to make progress in addressing the climate crisis and other environmental challenges.

• In July, Arlington County appointed Jennifer Fioretti to the newly created position of Assistant County Manager for Climate Policy to lead County efforts to meet its climate goals.
• Arlington now offers property tax exemptions for solar panels, and has strategically placed compost bins for food scrap collection for residents in multi-family buildings.

In late July, the Arlington County Manager announced the appointment of Jennifer Fioretti to the newly created post of Assistant County Manager for Climate Policy to provide vision and leadership in developing policy across County government and the broader community to address the County’s climate goals. In addition, the Climate Policy Office, which stood up in 2023, is being expanded from two to four positions, with Richard Dooley from the Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy Team as Climate Policy Director. 

EcoAction Arlington welcomes this new position and expansion of the Climate Policy Office as another step toward a whole of government and whole of community approach to addressing the climate crisis, which we and our partners–Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions Arlington Hub, and Sierra Club Potomac River Branch–have been advocating for. Also this year the County Board has advanced the transition of the ART bus fleet to battery electric buses and added $3.5 million to the Climate Action Fund to advance efforts to achieve the County’s carbon neutrality goal. 

EcoAction Arlington looks forward to working with Ms Fioretti, her team, and other County departments to reduce energy use, phase out fossil fuels in buildings and transportation, enhance public transit and multi-modal transportation options, improve tree canopy coverage and equitable access to nature, and advance the County’s zero waste goal

Have solar or are thinking about installing solar panels? Arlington County now offers a five-year tax credit deducted from your annual tax bill based on the installation cost of solar-related equipment. Existing solar panels with the appreciated documentation as well as new installations are eligible.

Check the Count website for more information.

The EcoAdvocate is compiled by the EcoAction Arlington Advocacy Committee

EcoAction Arlington | Elenor Hodges, Executive Director | 703-228-6427 | office@ecoactionarlington.org | ecoactionarlington.org

EcoAction Arlington's mission is to educate, advocate, and act to create a sustainable community by improving our natural environment, encouraging environmentally-friendly behaviors, ensuring environmental justice, and addressing the climate crisis.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.