Five more homeowners’ associations have been selected to receive grants for electric vehicle charging stations through Fairfax County’s Charge Up Fairfax program.
Spearheaded by the Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC), the initiative originally launched in 2023 as a pilot program to encourage residential neighborhoods to invest in electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure by reimbursing HOAs for up to a third of the costs to install charging stations.
The grants, part of a larger effort to achieve carbon neutrality county-wide by 2040, are capped at $5,000 for most communities and $10,000 for those in particularly vulnerable areas.
“Getting more people to switch from gas-powered vehicles to electric and plug-in hybrids is critical to cut carbon emissions and improve air quality,” OEEC Director John Morrill said in a press release. “Charge Up Fairfax is helping to expand the local charging infrastructure and to make it easier for residents to choose clean energy vehicles.”
To date, the OEEC reports that 15 HOAs, including the five newly announced recipients, are slated to receive county grants for installing charging stations.
- Reflection Homes Association in Herndon
- Shepherd Hills Homeowners Association in Lorton
- Newbridge Cluster Association in Reston
- Waterview Cluster Association in Reston
- Westwood Village Unit Owners’ Association in Tysons
Beyond financial assistance, recipients also receive technical support, including a site assessment by an engineering firm.
If an HOA moves forward with the purchase and installation of Level 2 EV charging stations, or fast chargers, they’re responsible for coordinating with a contractor to handle permitting, electrical work, installation and final inspections.
The county issues the reimbursement only after the charging stations are installed. While the entire process generally takes about a year, it largely depends on the specific community and their timeline, an OEEC spokesperson told FFXnow.
According to the spokesperson, the first two pilot communities are “on track” to install EV charging stations this summer, including Harpers Square Cluster Association in Reston and Penderbrook Community Association just east of Fair Lakes. Charge Up Fairfax will open its next application period in September.
Given that EVs make up roughly 2% of all vehicles registered in Fairfax, county leaders are hopeful the program will drive more residents to buy low or non-carbon-emitting cars, aiming for 13% by 2030, per the county’s website.
As of April 2024, the county government has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 25% compared to 2018, though that only counts for a tiny portion of emissions countywide.
In recent months, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has introduced several other climate action initiatives, providing residents with educational and technical support to enhance energy efficiency in their homes and financial assistance with flood recovery efforts.
