On Tuesday, October 13, 2026, York River Group and Coastal Virginia Group jointly hosted the Fifth Annual Southside Hampton Roads Climate Solutions Roundtable. York River Group Chair Tyla Matteson welcomed the guests virtually, and John Luker, Chair of the Coastal Virginia Group joined by big screen with 17other members of the Coastal Virginia Group who met in person at Batten University in VA Beach, their usual meeting place.
Opening remarks were from State Delegate Bonita Anthony, who represents parts of Norfolk and Chesapeake. Delegate Anthony’s encouraging message to the localities conveyed the importance of their work, recognizing how moving toward a clean energy economy should endeavor to lessen burdens on the more disadvantaged areas in our localities. She spoke about a new law where localities must consider EJ (environmental justice) strategies as part of their comprehensive planning: called Advancing Environmental Justice at the Local Level, HB 256 (Simonds)/SB 425 (Bagby).
Whitney Katchmark from Hampton Roads Planning District Commission gave an update on the EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant of an initial $1 million, with HRPDC as the lead for the 17 localities in the Hampton Roads area. With input from localities and citizens, the first Climate Action Plan for Hampton Roads was submitted to the EPA in November of 2025 which details actions leading to clean energy generation and ensures that low income communities will benefit. We heard about some excellent new laws that will be useful to localities, including balcony solar, from Corrina Beall, Sierra Club VA Chapter’s Legislative and Political Director. Her presentation included a short video of State Senator Scott Surovell, the bill’s patron, as he actually unboxed and set up a balcony solar panel.
Sustainability managers and representatives from Southside Hampton Roads localities reported on their latest initiatives in reducing greenhouse gas emissions to include solar arrays, energy efficient building practices, EV vehicles, EV charging stations, and other creative measures. These localities are Chesapeake, Franklin, Isle of Wight, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Southampton, Smithfield, Suffolk, Surry and Virginia Beach. We heard from four localities who summarized their climate reduction initiatives over the past year, speaking in reverse alphabetical order. Virginia Beach: Lori Herrick Borden, Energy Management Administrator, Department of Public Works; Virginia Beach Public Schools: Trevor McPhail-Vuono, Energy Manager; Suffolk: Gerry Jones, Deputy City Manager; Norfolk: Megan Hale, Environmental Sustainability Manager; and Chesapeake: Andi Kerley, Senior Planner, Planning Department. Questions from the audience were fielded by the presenters. Of note from presentations and slides for Norfolk and Virginia Beach were clear examples of many thousands of dollars saved with solar arrays and other initiatives. Clean energy solutions are good for the budget and good for the earth.
A Summary of the 2025 Climate Solution Roundtables is posted on the HR Climate Hub website, as well as previous roundtables for the Hampton Roads localities:
https://www.hrclimatehub.org/municipal-actions/hampton-roads-taking-action/