The Tysons location you want. The luxurious features and finishes you desire. The thoughtful amenities you deserve. This is Monarch — Tysons’ only new high-rise condominium building — opening Spring 2023.
Monarch offers exceptional privacy, serene outdoor spaces, white glove services, stunning interiors, and incredible views. Complementing the surrounding natural beauty and energy of Tysons, Monarch provides the ultimate luxury escape from the urban hustle with spaces that maximize flow and function.
Each residence offers an abundance of natural light, expansive views, chef’s kitchen, and spacious private outdoor living areas, with some featuring direct-entry elevators. From the richly lacquered cabinetry to the inspiring floor-to-ceiling windows, Monarch is defined by the details you will rediscover daily.
Let our 24-hour Concierge assist with everything from selecting a fine dining restaurant to coordinating a private party. Monarch is the only new condominium community in Tysons offering this level of superior service, designed to indulge and pamper its residents each and every day.
Whether you’re admiring the grand lobby, working out in the state-of-the-art fitness center, lounging next to the sparkling blue waters of the pool, or enjoying sunset cocktails on the terrace, Monarch makes a statement at every turn.
Located on the sophisticated side of Tysons — and backing to the park-like oasis that is Arbor Row — world-class shopping, dining, and entertainment experiences are only a block away. The nearby Silver Line Metro connects residents with everything Washington, D.C., and Dulles International Airport, where the whole world awaits just beyond.
Monarch is the pinnacle of condominium living in Tysons, where even a “quiet evening at home” becomes something extraordinary.
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
The Mosaic District is no longer home to the self-proclaimed first Thai-style rolled ice cream shop in Virginia.
520 Ice Cream & Tea permanently closed on Dec. 30, according to an Instagram post. A notice posted to the door at 2985 District Avenue, Suite 160, said the shop wouldn’t reopen in 2023.
“We thank you for five years of incredible support!” the notice said.
Billed as the first “Thai-inspired” ice cream establishment in Virginia and Maryland, the business had a location in Springfield that appears to have closed in 2019. Its Maryland locations in Rockville, Bethesda and College Park still seem to be open.
Several of the more recent Yelp reviews for the Mosaic shop complain about half-hour-long waits for ice cream. FFXnow was unable to reach 520 Ice Cream for an explanation of the closure.
The Mosaic District recently welcomed Kirby Club, a Mediterranean restaurant that opened in late December. Construction is underway in the neighborhood for three new tenants: a Pottery Barn furniture store, the jewelry business Brilliant Earth and the clothing store Faherty.
Fairfax County’s top priorities for 2023 will be increasing mental health services, boosting police retention, addressing commercial office vacancies, and improving pedestrian safety, Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay says.
Adequately addressing those needs, though, requires more financial help and local authority from Virginia’s General Assembly, he told FFXnow in an interview.
With the county increasingly reliant on real estate taxes, officials expect this budget cycle to be one of the most challenging in a decade.
As property values rise, the tax burden on property owners is already “significant” and hurting residents, McKay said. To not “exacerbate” the situation, the county likely needs to lower the real estate tax rate.
“I personally believe absolutely we have to reduce the tax rate as a part of this next budget,” McKay said.
Continued recovery from the pandemic is paramount, informing all the board’s priorities for the upcoming year, McKay said.
While economic recovery from the pandemic tends to get a lot of attention, there remains “a lot of work to do” on human services, according to the chairman.
“The thing that keeps me up at night is the ongoing growth of mental health challenges, especially with some of our young people,” McKay said. “I do think that a good chunk of that is a byproduct of what we’ve been through with Covid.”
Mental health-related challenges affect everything from police calls to unemployment and schools, he said. The county’s current budget gave close to $186 million to the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, which provides support services.
McKay believes the state’s $37 million contribution isn’t enough, arguing that mental health funding should be “primarily a state responsibility.”
“This is something the state has to get really serious about addressing,” he said. “Frankly, if they provided the level of support that the county did, we probably wouldn’t have near the mental health challenges in Virginia that we have now.”
Increasing mental health services could mean more educational programs, staffing, and supportive programs.
It also ties into public safety, as the Fairfax County Police Department struggles with understaffing and retention. McKay says officers are being asked to take on responsibilities that they shouldn’t have to handle.
“Increasingly our police are almost being asked to be mental health clinicians [when then are] mental health service calls,” he said. “It’s stressing them out and getting people not interested in joining police departments.”
In 2021, the county instituted a co-responder program where a crisis intervention specialist joins police officers on certain mental health-related calls. Alongside the county’s Diversion First program, launched in 2016, it provides treatment to individuals instead of incarceration. McKay says the programs need to “grow dramatically.”
Right now, the co-responder program has only two full-time counselors, but it needs 16 full-time staff. The deficit became tragically clear in August when police shot and killed a 26-year-old McLean resident who was experiencing a mental health crisis.
Inadequate staffing also means one mental health call could tie up an officer for an entire shift.
“They have to chaperone them into a hospital for endless hours, which takes officers off the street and costs the county a lot of money,” McKay said. “A big goal of mine is to fund the co-responder program and to hold the state accountable for their lack of funding. We have to recognize that if you’re going to get a full Covid recovery, you have to put resources into mental health services.”
He’s optimistic more resources could be coming the county’s way due to a state surplus and a better understanding of the magnitude of the problem.
“$37 million [from the state] for mental health support is embarrassing given the need that we have and given the conversation that the governor has had about increasing funding in this area,” he said. “How can you not be optimistic that they see the obvious here and address it?”
Finding a solution to high office vacancies and an “overreliance” on real estate taxes are also priorities.
The board seeks to enable conversions of underused office space into retail, housing or even homeless shelters. While it’s up to the private sector to follow through, McKay acknowledged the county could make its policies easier to understand and implement. The county’s new online platform for permitting and zoning was plagued by technical issues last fall.
“It’s been a challenge, a massive headache,” McKay said about the system launch. “If we can get people through our process quicker, more predictable, and more reliable, using technology to help cut through some of the bureaucratic red tape, we can get some of these redevelopment projects moving a lot quicker.”
He said all the county’s processes need to be “firing on all cylinders.”
The board will also focus on pedestrian safety in 2023, with “major money” being committed to projects and programs after a surge in fatalities in Fairfax County and across the region.
McKay noted again that this isn’t solely a county problem to solve.
“We have a lot of [Virginia Department of Transportation] streets that the county doesn’t own, that needs sidewalk or pedestrian improvements,” he said.
McKay also referenced $102 million that was diverted away from Northern Virginia to fund Metro. About $64 million has been restored, but the remaining $40 million is “essential” for needed safety improvements. The county has already identified dozens of projects after the board pledged to spend more than $100 million over the next few years.
County Executive Bryan Hill will release the fiscal year 2024 advertised budget plan on Feb. 21. A final budget will be adopted May 9.
By then, the county should know exactly how much money to expect from the state.
“We don’t have unlimited funding,” McKay said. “Not to be a broken record here, but I’m pushing hard during this [General Assembly] session to get real money for these priorities.”
Woman Killed in Mantua House Fire Identified — “86-year-old Crista Mensh was identified on Wednesday as the fatality from a house fire that fire crews believe originated from a natural Christmas tree…Total damages of the home cost over $615,000, Fairfax County fire confirmed.” [ABC7]
Suspects in Gaming Machine Thefts Arrested — “Two Maryland men were taken into custody [Tuesday], roughly two hours after the latest in a series of gaming machines thefts from area convenience stores. At 8:55 p.m. on Jan. 24, Fairfax County police officers were dispatched to the 7-Eleven at 8434 Frye Road…A store employee called saying two men just stole a gaming machine, loading the machine into a silver truck before leaving west on Frye Road.” [FCPD]
FCPS Recruiting Efforts Underway — Fairfax County Public Schools “has started hiring teachers for the 2023-24 school year, with a focus on filling vacancies at schools with large shares of students from low-income families. During a school board work session this week, Chief Operating Officer Marty Smith said Fairfax County Public Schools hired 51 teachers last week and has a pool with ’40 qualified candidates.'” [WTOP]
Fairfax Street Name Change Causes Confusion — The Joseph Willard Health Center has a new address of 3750 Blenheim Blvd. after Fairfax City renamed 14 of its streets, effective Jan. 1. Because “some websites, maps, and direction services are not yet updated,” the change “has caused some people to miss their appointments.” [Fairfax County Health Department]
Police Seek Suspect in Fairfax Vehicle Shootings — “City of Fairfax Police are asking the public’s help in identifying a man they say may have information about a shooting incident on Fairfax Boulevard in early December, according to a release. Two vehicles traveling on Fairfax Boulevard around 1:50 a.m., on Dec. 8, were struck by gunfire, according to police.” [Patch]
Feedback Sought on School Year Calendars — “Your feedback is important! FCPS is seeking community input on the draft calendar options for the 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 school years. Please share your thoughts with us by filling out this form before Tuesday, January 31, 1 p.m. The form will be available in other languages soon.” [FCPS]
Belle Haven Apartment Complex Opens — “The Belhaven Apartments, a multifamily residential building located at Kings Crossing in Alexandria, has completed several units for tenant move-in and actively begun leasing them. Managed by Fairfield, The Belhaven offers studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments and has a limited number of units available under Fairfax County’s Workforce Dwelling Unit affordable housing program.” [On the MoVe]
Virginia Considers Markers for “Green Book” Sites — “Virginia may soon have road signs marking significant spots from the Jim Crow era, when Black Americans often had to be careful about where they went and which businesses they walked into. Under a bill passed by the House of Delegates Tuesday, Virginia would add historical markers showing ‘Green Book’ sites across the state.” [WTOP]
It’s Thursday — Partly cloudy throughout the day. High of 51 and low of 37. Sunrise at 7:21 am and sunset at 5:24 pm. [Weather.gov]
This biweekly column is sponsored by The Mather in Tysons, Virginia, a forward-thinking Life Plan Community for those 62 and better.
Just as you can improve your general physical health with good habits, so too can you improve the health of your brain — boosting your memory and mental agility, as well as reducing your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias.
Although research has found links between genes and one’s risk of Alzheimer’s, the exact cause is more likely a combination of genetics and other factors. Practicing good brain health at any age can help stave off the disease, as well as build up your cognitive reserve. Cognitive reserve is a term describing the brain’s resilience toward damage.
The good news is that our brains are able to continue forming new neural connections throughout our life cycle, called neuroplasticity. In other words, no matter what your age, your brain health can improve as the internal structure of its neurons changes and as the number of synapses between neurons increases.
Brain health is an ongoing focus of Mather Institute, an award-winning resource for research and information about wellness, aging, trends in senior living, and successful aging service innovations. The Institute is the research arm of Mather, the parent organization to The Mather, a Life Plan Community coming to Tysons.
According to research gathered by Mather Institute, you can boost your brain health in a number of easy ways:
- Get a Move on. Regular physical activity can prevent or delay signs of dementia. People who have a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s Disease may be helped the most by physical activity.
- Oooohhmmmm… Meditation increases gray matter in areas of the brain associated with short- and long-term memory and complex cognitive processes.
- Go for the “Good Fats”! Mono- and poly-unsaturated fats are good for your brain, because of their essential nutrients. Unlike saturated fats, they don’t clog your arteries!
- Seek the Spiritual. In people with Alzheimer’s Disease, those who practiced religion or spirituality are associated with slower rates of cognitive decline.
- Walking the Walk. Cardio exercise such as brisk walking has been linked to growth in the area of the brain associated with creating new memories.
- 1, 2, 3, Relax! Stress is bad for the brain and the body. Learn to counter it by activating your relaxation state. For example, you can sit quietly and focus on slowing your breathing.
- Time to Go Back to School! Researchers believe that the most efficient way to build more connections between brain cells is to learn something new.
- Eat Your Fruits & Veggies. Antioxidants reduce chronic inflammation, which has been linked to Alzheimer’s. They also relieve oxidative stress, which has been linked to a number of conditions and diseases including Alzheimer’s.
- To Err Is Human… Forgiveness is good for the brain. Letting go of grudges and anger can reduce stress and depression, and increase feelings of well-being — all benefits to the brain!
- Be a Social Butterfly. Social engagement has been associated with preserving memory and thinking abilities. In one study of more than 1,000 older adults, the 10% with the highest level of social activity had 70% less cognitive decline than those in the lowest 10%.
The good news about brain health is that it’s never too late to start the healthy habits that can improve your cognitive abilities and protect you against dementia.
The Mather in Tysons, VA, for those 62 and better, is a forward-thinking Life Plan Community that defies expectations of what senior living is supposed to be. It opens in 2024.
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
(Updated at 3:50 p.m. on 1/31/2023) Just three years after going a full season without Metro, Fairfax County’s Orange Line stations will again be subjected to an extended summer shutdown, as the transit agency works to upgrade some of its equipment.
As part of a larger maintenance work plan, the Vienna and Dunn Loring stations will be closed from June 3 to July 27 so Metro can replace a steel rail that has degraded, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Agency announced yesterday (Tuesday).
The replacement will unfold in two phases “to reduce the customer impact,” according to Metro. During the first phase from June 3-26, the closure will also include the West and East Falls Church stations. Those stations will reopen on June 27.
(Correction: This article previously reported that the Ballston and McLean stations will also be closed during the first phase. Metro has clarified that they will remain open, but a shuttle will be needed to get around the East Falls Church station closure.)
“The Infrastructure team will focus on replacing 40-year-old steel rail that has become significantly more susceptible to rail breaks than rail in any other part of the system,” WMATA said. “Metro has been tracking rail breaks in the system to identify priority locations for replacement and has determined the rail in this stretch of track to be a top priority.”
The work will also include a replacement of the copper cables at the stations with fiber-optic cables, giving them “advanced radio, signal, and train communication technology.”
Metro typically schedules its major maintenance projects during the summer when there’s lower ridership, according to the news release.
This year’s plan is focused on modernizing the rail system. It will also involve single-tracking on the Maryland end of the Orange Line from May 12 to 22 and a 44-day shutdown of the Maryland end of the Green Line from July 22 to Sept. 4.
“Continued maintenance work is essential to safe and reliable rail service,” WMATA Executive Vice President of Infrastructure Andy Off said in a statement. “We are working strategically to target maintenance locations and minimize the impacts on customers as we conduct this critical work to upgrade systems, improve reliability, and modernize station facilities.”
A Metro spokesperson said the agency is “working on a shuttle bus plan to connect the closed stations and will announce the travel alternatives well ahead of the stations closures.”
This summer’s partial Orange Line shutdown won’t be as extensive as the three-month-long closure of 2020, when Metro overhauled the station platforms.
When ridership plummeted that spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency expanded the closure to include the Silver Line between Ballston and Wiehle-Reston East so that it could connect those stations to the upcoming extension into Loudoun County.
The Silver Line stations ultimately reopened that August, followed by the Orange Line stations just after Labor Day. Even with the unexpected leeway for construction in 2020, the Silver Line extension still encountered several delays before finally launching service last November.
According to its online rail data, the Vienna Metro station is averaging the most daily rail entries out of the four Fairfax County stations that will be affected this summer, as of November:
- Vienna — 8,794 entries
- West Falls Church — 4,674 entries
- Dunn Loring — 3,543 entries
- McLean — 928 entries
In a quarterly report last fall, WMATA reported its highest ridership levels since the pandemic took hold in March 2020, though the 45.6 million riders across rail and bus was still just 60% of 2019 levels.
On the edge of Vienna, The Providence shines with nurturing and innovative boutique-style assisted living and memory care surrounded by renowned arts and cultural venues and experiences.
Combining the elegance of a luxury rental community, the extravagance of a best-in-class hospitality experience, and just the right amount of individualized support from our Assisted Living, Bridge Program, or Memory Care lifestyle options, everything at The Providence is tailored to help our residents thrive.
Our U-shaped building is sculpted with an elevated courtyard. This natural space for residents, friends, and family to enjoy the outdoors is perfectly complemented by our rooftop terrace that looks straight out of a painting, decorated with herb and flower gardens. Inside, our studios, one-, and two-bedroom residences offer spacious floor plans featuring upscale touches and refined finishes, such as modern kitchenettes, high ceilings, and large bathrooms with walk-in showers.
From nature walks to art exhibitions to theatrical performances, there are always exciting things to do. Residents enjoy a wide variety of energizing community events and planned outings including trips to Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, Capital One Hall, Lake Fairfax Park Amphitheater, and Meadowlark Botanical Gardens.
Expert-led enrichment opportunities, signature wellness programs, vibrant local culture, and attentive and custom care at The Providence deliver a quality of life that is exciting, comforting, and exceptional.
Now welcoming new residents. To learn more visit ProvidenceFairfax.com or call (571) 550-9404.
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
One person lost their home this morning (Wednesday) in a fire in Dunn Loring.
The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department says it had units dispatched to the house fire in the 8200 block of First Avenue at 5:02 a.m. When they arrived at the small, wooden house, “heavy fire” was visible.
The fire was “quickly extinguished,” and there were no reported injuries, according to the department. However, one occupant was displaced.
A photo of the building shows that its windows are gone, and the front portion of the steepled roof has been destroyed.
An investigation into the cause of the fire is now underway.
At 5:02 a.m. today, units were dispatched for a house fire in 8200 block of First Avenue in Dunn Loring. Heavy fire visible on arrival. Fire quickly extinguished. No reported injuries at this time. One occupant displaced. Fire Investigators are on scene to determine cause. #FCFRD pic.twitter.com/X16nBp1THw
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) January 25, 2023
FCPD Arrests Former Arlington Teachers Union Leader — “A former president of the Arlington teachers union, who was ousted last spring, has been charged with embezzling more than $400,000″ from the Arlington Education Association, whose headquarters are in Bailey’s Crossroads, just inside Fairfax County’s borders. Ingrid Gant was arrested Monday (Jan. 23) and faces four counts of embezzlement. [ARLnow]
Man Mistakenly Steals Tesla in Tysons — A 50-year-old man was taken into custody for driving while intoxicated and grand larceny after taking off in another man’s Tesla that was parked at Tysons Corner Center last Thursday (Jan. 19). Police say their investigation suggests “the man likely confused the victim’s car with his own Tesla which was found nearby.” [FCPD/Facebook]
Chap Petersen Gets a Primary Challenger — “Saddam Salim officially announced his intention Tuesday morning to challenge Sen. Chap Petersen in the June 20 Democratic Party Primary for the State Senate seat in the 37th District,” which includes Tysons, Vienna and Fairfax City. Currently working as a financial consultant, Salim says he “will fight for core Democratic values down in Richmond,” while Petersen said he welcomed the competition. [Patch]
Police Seek Help Identifying Suspects in Gaming Machine Thefts — Fairfax County police detectives are investigating a series of thefts involving money being stolen from convenience store gaming machines. According to the department, there have been six incidents between Dec. 29 and this past Saturday (Jan. 21) in McLean, Springfield and the Alexandria area. [FCPD]
Tax Relief Approved for Military Service Member Spouses — “The Board of Supervisors approved a lower real estate tax rate for the surviving spouses of military service members who died in the line of duty…The board’s action on Tuesday establishes a tax rate for these spouses at $0.01 per $100 of assessed value which is the lowest rate allowed under the state law passed last year.” [Fairfax County Government]
Cybersecurity Firm Plans Reston Relocation — “SpiderOak is moving its headquarters from Chicago to Reston, Virginia, and establishing a space cybersecurity laboratory. In the new laboratory, SpiderOak will provide for hardware-in-the-loop qualification testing.” The startup recently raised $16.4 million, led by a space technology platform tied to the Chicago-based private equity firm Madison Dearborn Partners. [Space News]
County Pensions Affected by Crypto Bankruptcy — “Genesis Global Holdco…filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection late Thursday because of its exposure to collapsed hedge fund Three Arrows Capital and fallen crypto exchange FTX. Genesis owes over $3.5 billion to its top 50 creditors — and one of the creditors has ties to a $6.8 billion pension fund system in Fairfax County” [CoinDesk]
Tysons Tech Company Gets Funding Boost — The Tysons-based startup Sheeva.AI has “finalized a $9.25 million Series A funding round, led by strategic investors Reynolds and Reynolds Company, with additional funding from Poppe + Potthoff Capital GmbH and Pegasus Tech Ventures.” The company provides real-time location data that can be used for vehicle-related services, such as parking and automated curbside pick-up payments. [Press Release]
Rocket Launch Seen From Reston — “Rocket Lab launch this evening of Electron rocket from Wallops Island, Va. as viewed from Reston. Heading away from us in this image. Separation of two stages was visible earlier.” [Bill Burton/Twitter]
It’s Wednesday — Rain throughout the day. High of 53 and low of 36. Sunrise at 7:21 am and sunset at 5:22 pm. [Weather.gov]
The clock is ticking on Fairfax County’s goal of achieving net-zero new carbon emissions by 2050.
With local government and school operations accounting for just 5% of all emissions, the county is developing a plan to help residents and organizations take action to reduce their carbon footprint and combat climate change.
Presented to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors at an environmental committee meeting on Dec. 13, the proposal suggests starting to implement the Community-wide Energy and Climate Action Plan (CECAP) adopted in 2021 by partnering with businesses, nonprofits and others that will serve as “climate champions.”
“Every single person and organization can have negative or positive impacts for reducing our greenhouse gas emissions in time to prevent serious harm to our children, nature and communities,” Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck, chair of the environmental committee, said in a statement. “Each segment of our community…must have simple, easy, adoptable actions to get started and get done the changes we need.”
Expected to roll out early this year, the Climate Champions initiative will take a three-pronged approach, Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC) staff told the board:
- A faith-based and nonprofit community pilot, led by the Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions (FACS)
- A business/industry pilot, focused initially on the hospitality sector and led by Visit Fairfax
- An outreach campaign aimed at getting individuals to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions
Having pilot projects focused on specific sectors will help the county tailor its resources, policies and messaging to their needs, Storck said.
A hotel owner, for instance, could provide insight into how their building could be more sustainable — and what incentives would make those changes feasible. Homeowners’ associations could raise awareness of programs like Solarize Fairfax County, which aims to reduce the cost of solar panel installations.
“We can sit in this room all we want, but we need messengers out there in the community, taking ownership of elements in CECAP to make sure we’re successful,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said at the committee meeting.
Convincing churches and other places of worship to take action on climate change isn’t a challenge for FACS, a nonprofit with over 190 religious groups in Northern Virginia that has been a vocal advocate for CECAP and other environmental measures.
Many faith communities are already tackling climate projects, from solar sanctuaries that would turn them into refuges during power outages to staff at Reston’s St. John Neumann Catholic Church volunteering to clean up for events if they utilize reusable dishes and silverware to reduce waste.
The county’s pilot will help better coordinate those efforts and share ideas, while hopefully encouraging more congregations to get involved, FACS Executive Director Andrea McGimsey told FFXnow.
“We all need to work together as quickly as possible to try to get this done, and that’s going to take a lot of partners out in the community, so we really hope to hear from folks,” she said. “…I really think this pilot has the chance of making a real difference, and we’re honored that Fairfax County asked us to do this and we’re going to work as hard as we can at it and try to really make a difference.”
Per CECAP, the county hopes to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, reducing greenhouse gas emissions 50% from 2005 levels by 2030, 75% by 2040 and 87% by 2050.
The D.C. area has seen a 30% reduction in emissions since 2005, despite its population growing over that time, according to OEEC staff, citing 2020 data from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.
A steep drop betwen 2018 and 2020 partly reflects the pandemic’s impact. Even so, overall energy usage and electricity consumption levels have declined, and the adoption of renewable energy systems and electric vehicles surpassed the region’s 2020 goals.
According to the county’s energy dashboard, carbon emissions from local government facilities have stayed below pre-pandemic levels, ticking up over 55,000 metric tons in 2021 before decreasing to about 47,500 metric tons last year.
However, there is still a long way to go to reach the county’s 2030 goal of under 8 million metric tons across the community. Getting there will require “strong leadership” from the county and other figures in the community, McGimsey says.
She says FACS is talking with the county about working with its nonprofit partners in human services and other sectors for the Climate Champions pilot. The organization is also eager for a potential green bank that would provide funding for both residential and commercial clean energy projects.
“In the end, you can come up with all these good ideas, but if you can’t figure out how to finance it, you’re not going to get them built and on the ground, and that’s what we want to do,” McGimsey said.
John Morrill, OEEC’s division manager for innovation and sustainability, said a steering committee is finalizing its proposal for the green bank, which could go to the Board of Supervisors for a vote this spring.
“We’re anticipating a green bank will be able to hit the ground running in the middle [of 2023],” he told the environmental committee.
