University of Virginia
EN-10: Community Partnerships

UVA and its surrounding community have established a transformative partnership through its (1) Planning Commissions (City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County), (2) Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO - 5 County area), and the (3) Master Planning Council (UVA).
Senior UVA planning staff are appointed to the City and County (1 each) Planning Commissions to have active knowledge and an active role in shaping each community. The time invested in preparing for and attending Planning Commission meetings is significant, and each community gets the benefit of representation by the University. In exchange, UVA has a Master Planning Council(MPC) that consists of Vice Presidential UVA staff that addresses planning at and in the context of the University. MPC is attended by appointed members of the City and County Planning Commissions in addition to the Chief Planning staff for each of those entities. Finally, senior UVA planning staff attend the local metropolitan
planning organization (MPO) Technical and Policy Board meetings and play a role in guiding the large scale planning process for our larger community area and transportation network. This high-level coordination within the political network of the community leads to an extraordinary level of coordination in town gown relationships and successful partnerships for the community.
This practice has been underway for over 20 years and UVA provides staff and financial support to this effort on an annual basis. UVA is currently underway with a project to create a centralized website, rather than information provided on each agency (City, County, University) website as has been the practice in the past.

Solarize Charlottesville is a grassroots, community-based outreach initiative sponsored by the Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) in partnership with the City of Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and the UVA Community Credit Union. By leveraging the collective buying power, we can offer discounted prices plus attractive financing options. City of Charlottesville residents are also eligible for a local City Solar Tax Credit and reduced interest rate financing with PowerSaver Home Loans. In 2016, 1,100 Charlottesville neighbors expressed interest in Solarize, shattering expectations. http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/departments-a-g/city-council/a-green-city-/solarize-charlottesville. In the first solarize Charlottesville campaign (2014-2015), 777 kW was installed. (http://leap-va.org/commercial/solarize-charlottesville-return-june-20-august-20/.
In conjunction, UVA is in process with a solarizing projects to create renewable energy for the University and community with Dominion Energy - our local service provider. UVA continues to expand its portfolio of carbon-free power-generation sources and achieve key sustainability targets with another partnership with Dominion Energy. Under a 25-year agreement, the University will purchase the entire output of a proposed 120-acre solar facility in Middlesex County. The solar facility, developed by Coronal Energy, will be constructed and owned by Dominion Energy. It will produce an estimated 15 megawatts of alternating current, or about 9 percent of the University’s electric demand. The Middlesex County solar farm, called the UVA Puller Solar facility, joins the previously announced UVA Hollyfield Solar facility in King William County. In total, the two sites will produce 32 megawatts of solar energy, offsetting about 21 percent of the University’s electric demand.
In summary:
Off-Grounds (not yet construction/in operation – projected late 2018: 32 MW
On-Grounds, owned by UVA: 141 kW
On-Grounds, owned by Dominion (leased roof space): 364 kW
On-Grounds in progress (Ivy Stacks): 191 kW
TOTAL: 32.696 MW completed or in progress

• Develop high-level UVA statement about mutually respectful partnerships with the community
• Assess need for center for community partnerships
• Work with Madison House to promote high-impact educational experiences, tie service of Madison House’s 3,100 UVA student volunteers to the curriculum
• Examination of best practices at other institutions spurred the need for this committee to continue conversations regarding outreach
http://www.madisonhouse.org/overview/

A brief description of the institutions’ other community partnerships to advance sustainability:
Madison House: More than 3,000 University of Virginia students volunteer their time and energy on a weekly basis to better the community and themselves through Madison House. Volunteers serve as tutors, construction workers, day care supporters, patient service representatives, role models, and peer counselors.

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
http://www.madisonhouse.org/

As part of the University Sustainability Committee, the Civic Engagement Subcommittee develops programs to engage the University and surrounding community:
Civic Engagement is a core component of U.Va.’s mission statement and the U.Va. sustainability statement – calling upon the U.Va. community to educate ethical leaders and to build a collaborative and diverse community to ensure this and future generations have access to bountiful resources. At U.Va., civic engagement aims to build an inclusive culture through partnerships across the community to identify projects both on and off grounds that conserve resources while investing in people.