County launches 18–24 month Climate Action Plan process, seeks input

Rich Dooley, director of climate policy, briefed the commission on the County's first comprehensive Climate Action Plan, which will build on the existing Community Energy Plan and expand to include resilience, circular economy strategies and ecosystem health.

Dooley said the project will proceed in four phases over roughly 18–24 months; phase 1 (vision and goals) is complete and phase 2 (prioritizing strategies and actions) is underway. He highlighted local climate hazards—rising average temperatures and more days above 90°F, and increasing extreme‑precipitation events that strain older stormwater infrastructure—and described an approach that stitches together existing departmental programs rather than recreating work.

The plan’s public engagement will mix in‑person workshops, focus groups and online feedback tools. Dooley said the County has held kickoff events and has already collected hundreds of feedback responses; staff will present a draft plan in late 2027 with County Board consideration expected in late 2027 to early 2028.

Commissioners asked about regional coordination, water infrastructure responsibilities and opportunities for electrification and building upgrades. Dooley said staff are coordinating with regional bodies (Northern Virginia Regional Commission, MWCOG) and local peer jurisdictions and are developing permitting guidance and training to be ready for new plug‑in PV rules coming into effect January 1.

Next steps: staff will continue phase 2 engagement, test prioritization tools and provide periodic updates to commission liaisons and chairs.