In a bid to upgrade its electric vehicle infrastructure, Fairfax County is turning to the federal government for a little extra support.
The Board of Supervisors approved a board matter on July 30 directing staff to join U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) new “Charging Smart” pilot program, which offers free technical assistance to help local governments in eight states, including Virginia, expand EV charging infrastructure “efficiently and equitably.”
The program is modeled on the DOE’s SolSmart initiative, which assists local governments with reviewing their policies on permitting, zoning and market development activities to encourage more people to switch to solar energy.
Like its predecessor, Charging Smart awards Bronze, Silver, and Gold designations to municipalities that satisfy benchmarks in zoning and permitting, fleet management, utility coordination and equitable access.
After joining SolSmart in 2019 and achieving a gold certification, county officials hope to get the same level of validation from Charging Smart.
“County staff have reviewed the criteria for this program and believe the County is well-positioned for the Silver designation, and possibly even Gold,” Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw said during the board’s July 30 meeting.
Walkinshaw pointed out that participation in the pilot program is cost-free for the county and “could help bolster future applications for federal funding for electric vehicles and related infrastructure.”
Participation also aligns with the county’s goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as outlined in the 2021 Community-wide Energy and Climate Action Plan, he noted.
In recent years, the county has invested millions in environmental programs, including grants to help homeowners’ associations install EV charging stations, technical assistance to residents for energy-efficient home upgrades and financial aid for flood-prone residences.
Currently, EVs account for about 2% of all vehicles registered in Fairfax County. However, county leaders are optimistic that investing in the infrastructure to support those vehicles will encourage more residents to purchase low or non-carbon-emitting vehicles, with a target of 13% by 2030, according to the county’s website.
As of April 2024, the county government has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 25% compared to 2018, though that represents only a small fraction of the total emissions produced countywide.
