2023 IMPACT REPORT
Scaling Community-Led Climate Action
SHENANDOAH VALLEY
WINCHESTER
NORTHERN
VIRGINIA
CHARLOTTESVILLE
RICHMOND
Vision
communities a reality.
C3’s purpose is to make
equitable carbon-neutral
ALBEMARLE COUNTY
CENTRAL VIRGINIA
Mission
C3 works with local communities across Virginia to mitigate climate change in ways that improve people’s lives. Using technical, policy, and communications expertise, we facilitate solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, transform local systems, and strengthen the climate movement.
Contents
2
Executive Letter
5
The 4 Issues
11
Our DEIJ Commitment
12
Financial Statement
13
Donor List
14
Board of Directors and Staff
in the unique vision we’re
I’ve always believed
crafting together at C3—a vision that not only serves as a beacon for Charlottesville but also as a replicable model for communities nationwide striving for climate leadership. Your dedication, both in your homes and businesses and through your advocacy, is demonstrating that Charlottesville is indeed ready to lead on climate action. Together, we’ve showcased what collective effort can achieve.
However, our mission extends beyond Charlottesville. Climate change is a challenge that confronts every community. That’s why last year, C3 took a significant stride forward by expanding our operations to include the City of Richmond. With both cities now under our umbrella, each with its own ambitious Climate Action Plan, we are poised to tackle the hurdles on the path to a carbon- neutral future. By leveraging our presence in two localities, we can pinpoint barriers to progress in one city and develop effective, scalable solutions that benefit both.
Our expansion signifies more than just geographic reach—it signifies the growth of a network of businesses and advocates united in advancing climate solutions across the Commonwealth. The urgency of the climate crisis demands that we scale C3 effectively while preserving our deep-rooted commitment to local engagement and tailored solutions.
As we embark on this journey, we remain dedicated to striking a balance between efficiency and maintaining strong local connections. While C3 may grow, our unwavering commitment to empowering local climate action remains steadfast. We urge you to continue your invaluable support of C3 and to take proactive steps in your own community, as together we strive towards a carbon-neutral and sustainable future— one community at a time.
SUSAN KRUSE
We can propel Virginia
SUSAN KRUSE
1
Shaping the Built Environment
Virginia’s largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions come from the built environment—the human-made infrastructures we create in our communities to support our daily lives, work, and play. In Virginia, more than 65% of our greenhouse gas emissions stem from commercial activities, including transportation, manufacturing, and the energy consumption of buildings.
Impact Highlight
To confront and significantly reduce polluting emissions from commercial activities, C3 engages local businesses in the implementation of climate solutions. Through our Corporate Sustainability campaign and the Green Business Alliance (GBA), C3 has mobilized businesses to directly reduce their climate impact. The Charlottesville-based GBA, which includes 25 locally headquartered employers with critical influence, has successfully reduced over 10,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent emissions. Additionally, C3 is now developing similar relationships within Richmond’s business community, where commercial buildings account for the largest share of Richmond’s greenhouse gas emissions. We aim to replicate the successful emissions reductions achieved in Charlottesville in the Commonwealth’s capital.
Top Corporate Highlights
- The Green Business Alliance (GBA) initiative produced a 50,300 kg decrease in CO2 emissions.
- The GBA produced 49% electric savings and 60% gas savings, thus leading to an overall 56% decrease in carbon footprint.
- Piedmont CASA, a local non-profit that received C3 support, produced 24% energy savings and 40% gas savings, leading to an overall 18% decrease in carbon footprint.
- Our Energy Efficiency Grants program, which works directly with small, minority-owned businesses to identify and implement energy efficiency upgrades, produced a 15,000kg reduction in CO2 greenhouse gas, which equates to -1,700 gallons of gasoline avoided.
2
Expanding Solar Development
To address the climate crisis, it is crucial that we replace fossil fuel powered energy with renewable sources like solar. Deploying solar energy rapidly, responsibly, and equitably is a critical part of meeting our climate goals and addressing the climate crisis.
Impact Highlight
In 2023, Albemarle County unanimously approved the 138 MW Woodridge Solar Project. This single project will generate enough clean energy to power half of all households in Albemarle County. Following that decision, county supervisors initiated the creation of a solar ordinance to set standards for future solar development in Albemarle. Drawing on our research-backed expertise, C3 successfully collaborated with local partners and stakeholders to develop recommendations that promote the efficient, responsible, and equitable deployment of solar energy. At C3, we believe that solar ordinances are strongest when they balance the need for renewable energy with thoughtful consideration of the environmental and socioeconomic impacts of development.
kg reduction in CO2
upgrades, produced a 15,000
greenhouse gas,
which equates to
~1,700 gallons
of gasoline
avoided.
Top Youth Highlights
- C3 teen interns and other local high school students spoke at City Council in favor of Zero- Emission Buses, a successful campaign that delivered results in the spring of 2024!
- Our summer teen interns produced the first C3 mini-documentary – “Behind the Scenes: Methane Leaks in Charlottesville’’ – which was entered in the Light House Climate Film Challenge in spring 2024.
- C3 delivered over 1300 Climate Action Kits to Albemarle County and Charlottesville City 4th and 5th graders, demonstrating examples of climate solutions to younger grade levels. Members of the Green Teen Alliance wrote letters to local decision-makers advocating for climate solutions.
3
Connecting Communities Through Public Transportation
Top Policy Highlights
- C3 collected a total of 1,185 signatures from residents in support of petitions for Zero- Emission transit buses for Charlottesville and the approval of the Woodridge Solar project in Albemarle County.
- C3’s “Solar Climate Justice Scorecard” gained national recognition, aiding approval of the Woodridge Solar Project, one of Virginia’s largest solar farms.The City of Charlottesville’s Climate Team was elevated to directly work with the City Manager’s office, increased from 1 to 3 staff members, and secured $1M/year for 5 years for climate projects. Additionally, it initiated a study to decarbonize its municipally-owned Gas Utility, a pioneering effort in small communities.
- Charlottesville’s City Council approved a new Zoning Code that promotes the creation of more energy-efficient multi-family housing units and will enable more equitable transit options within the community.
4
Advocating for Social Justice
C3 believes that climate and justice are inherently connected and recognizes that we cannot solve one without addressing the other. The causes and impacts of climate change disproportionately impact communities of color and other marginalized groups who are already vulnerable to systemic and social injustices. Therefore, C3 operates at the intersection of climate change and various systemic challenges in our communities. These challenges include issues such as affordable housing, mobility, land use and zoning policies, food insecurity, and public health. By addressing these issues alongside climate action, we aim to foster comprehensive solutions that promote both environmental action and social equity.
Impact Highlight
Charlottesville adopted its Climate Action Plan in early 2023. The plan gives the community a roadmap to decarbonize while recognizing the connections between climate and social justice issues. Many of C3’s recommendations were included in the plan, including several that we built with our social justice partners. Combining our climate expertise with the expertise of our partners on affordable housing, zoning reform, mobility, and food justice, C3 facilitated the development of the following joint policy platforms: Climate Justice and Energy Equity; Equitable Decarbonization of Charlottesville Gas; Accessible, Clean Transportation; Boosting Climate Solutions through Food Justice; and Climate Smart and Equitable Zoning. In all, more than 20 organizations collaborated to deliver the final recommendations.
DEIJ Statement
C3 recognizes that diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) work is a journey, not a destination. And while these principles have always been central to our work, in recent years, C3 staff have embraced DEIJ in more intentional and deliberate ways.
In previous years, we established our
commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion,
and justice as an organization and to the
communities we serve, with the implementation of DEIJ-centered policies and practices, and staff- and board-led committees. With this solid foundation in place, and thanks to the generosity of Patagonia, we continue to advance DEIJ through the Whiteness@ Work training program. Read an excerpt from our published statement below (the full content can be found on our website
theclimatecollaborative.org/justice).
Sowing Seeds of Change:
Our Vision for an Equitable and
Climate-Just Future
The causes and impacts of climate change unfairly disadvantage communities of color and other marginalized groups that already face systemic and social injustices. For this reason, the Community Climate Collaborative (C3) operates as more than a climate organization. We work at the nexus of climate change and other systemic issues that exist in our communities and are exacerbated by climate change – such as affordable housing, mobility, land use and zoning, food insecurity, and health.
We believe that, in pursuit of our vision for a climate-just
future, we must also seek systems-level changes that
promote justice and ensure no one in our community is
harmed, oppressed, and/or left behind. And our solutions
to address these systemic issues must include a diversity
of voices and perspectives, especially from those who
are most affected, in order to optimize
creative outcomes and enhance our
chances of success. As such,
the C3 team is committed to
infusing diversity, equity,
inclusion, and justice (DEIJ)
into all aspects of our
work, including in our
hiring and recruitment
practices, program
development and
implementation, and
partnerships with
individuals and other
organizations.
2023 Financials/ What’s Next for C3
Total Revenue:
Foundations:
$619,925
Total Expenses:
Programs:
$837,856
C3 is a leader in climate and justice in Charlottesville and Albemarle County. We work at the nexus of climate change and other systemic issues—such as affordable housing and community mobility—to ensure that everyone, especially those most vulnerable, is protected from the increasing impacts of climate change. In the year ahead, C3 will firmly establish an expanded footprint in Richmond, Virginia, while continuing to facilitate meaningful climate action in Charlottesville. These efforts will not only amplify C3’s impact on direct emissions reductions but will also solidify the very foundation of climate action in the CommonwealthWith our presence established in both Charlottesville and Richmond, we’re committed to ensuring both cities meet their goals of carbon neutrality by 2050. Our 2024 priorities include
Facilitating an Equitable Zero-Emissions Transit System in Charlottesville
Expanding C3’s Green Business Alliance to Richmond-Based Businesses
Understanding the Impact of High Energy Costs on Richmond Households
Removing Barriers to Responsible Solar Development in Albemarle County
Our donors’ support will be pivotal in achieving these objectives. Every gift made to C3 helps bring our vision into focus, and we look forward to forging collaborations with our donors, supporters, and partners as we work collectively toward the realization of our shared goals.
Staff and Board List
Current Staff:
Susan Kruse
Executive Director
Caetano de Campos Lopes
Director of Climate Policy
Coles Jennings
Director of Corporate Sustainability
Aidyn Mancenido
Director of Development
Leah Jones
Director of Communications
Sarah Delgado
Operations Manager
Jacqui Bauer
Climate Services Manager
Maria Duster
Climate Justice Policy Manager
Sadhbh O’Flynn
Climate Justice Policy Manager
Current Board:
Grey McLean
We’d like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the many college and high school interns who have dedicated their time and effort to supporting C3’s mission over the last year, bringing fresh perspectives and invaluable contributions to our work.
President
Kelli Palmer
Vice President
Morgan Butler
Secretary
Karl Quist
Former Board:
Paige Perriello
Former Staff:
Maggie Davis Katie Ebinger Teri Strother
Treasurer
Hannah Coman Emily Francis Ryan McCall Javier Raudeles Harrison Wallace Barbara Brown Wilson Sherica Jones-Lewis Emily Little
info@theclimatecollaborative.org
234 E High St, Charlottesville, VA 22902