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To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to accept funds in the amount of $10,000.00 from the Virginia Department of Energy, to amend the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Special Fund Budget by creating a new special fund for the Office of Sustainability called the “Virginia Energy Resilience Study (VERS), Virginia Energy Resilience Planning Grant Special Fund,” and to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Special Fund Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Office of Sustainability’s “Virginia Energy Resilience Study (VERS), Virginia Energy Resilience Planning Grant Special Fund” by $10,000.00 for the purpose of funding the implementation of energy resilience planning in the city’s East End.
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THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEREBY ORDAINS:
§ 1. That the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, is authorized to accept funds in the amount of $10,000.00 from the Virginia Department of Energy for the purpose of funding the implementation of energy resilience planning in the city’s East End.
§ 2. That Article I, Section 2 of Ordinance No. 2025-057 , adopted May 12, 2025, which adopted a Special Fund Budget for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026, and made appropriations pursuant thereto, be and is hereby amended by creating a new special fund for the Office of Sustainability called the “Virginia Energy Resilience Study (VERS), Virginia Energy Resilience Planning Grant Special Fund” for the purpose of funding the implementation of energy resilience planning in the city’s East End.
§ 3. That the funds received from the Virginia Department of Energy are hereby appropriated to the Special Fund Budget for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026, by increasing estimated revenues by $10,000.00, increasing the amount appropriated for expenditures by $10,000.00, and allotting to the Office of Sustainability’s “Virginia Energy Resilience Study (VERS), Virginia Energy Resilience Planning Grant Special Fund” the sum of $10,000.00 for the purpose of funding the implementation of energy resilience planning in the city’s East End.
§ 4. This ordinance shall be in force and effect upon adoption.
DATE: August 15, 2025
TO: The Honorable Members of City Council
THROUGH: The Honorable Mayor Danny Avula
THROUGH: Odie Donald II, Chief Administrative Officer
THROUGH: Tanikia Jackson, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
THROUGH: Letitia Shelton, Director of Finance
THROUGH: Meghan K. Brown, Director of Budget and Strategic Planning
THROUGH: Sharon L. Ebert, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Laura Thomas, Director of the Office of Sustainability
RE: Office of Sustainability | Virginia Energy Resilience Study (VERS) Virginia Energy Resilience Planning Grant ($10,000) | Supporting Energy Resilience on the East End of Richmond
PURPOSE: To authorize the transfer of $10,000 from the Virginia Energy Resilience Planning Grant to the Office of Sustainability to support efforts to build energy resilience in Richmond’s East End.
REASON: As the City of Richmond and the Office of Sustainability continue to implement the RVAgreen 2050 Climate Equity Action Plan, adopted by City Council, we recognize the urgent need to build energy resilience in historically underserved communities. This funding will support planning efforts focused on East End neighborhoods specifically Census Tracts 201, 202, and 204 and help advance the development of a community Resilience Hub in the area.
RECOMMENDATION: City Council approves the $10,000.00 from the Virginia DOE Virginia Energy Resilience Study (VERS) Virginia Energy Resilience Planning Grant to create a new special fund to support community engagement and other activities associated with energy resilience planning in Richmond’s East End, as well as the completion of grant deliverables.
BACKGROUND: The Virginia Energy Resilience Study (VERS) is a statewide initiative, led by the Virginia Department of Energy, that will support economically impacted communities in measuring their energy resilience and identifying practical, long-term solutions to reduce vulnerabilities. The study will help communities prioritize facilities to act as Resilience Hubs that can be powered by solar energy and battery storage, creating safe, reliable spaces for residents during extended power outages. As part of this pilot study, the City of Richmond will:
• Receive an energy resilience profile outlining current vulnerabilities and strategies for improvement in selected East End communities.
• Receive design drawings to convert an existing community identified facility into a Resilience Hub utilizing solar plus storage.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Grant funds will be used to support community engagement activities around energy resilience in Richmond’s East End. The purpose of these activities is to inform residents about the study, gather community input, and identify a potential building to evaluate for conversion into a Resilience Hub.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no local match required. The Department of OOS does not anticipate any impact to the city’s Budget for this or Future fiscal years related to activities associated with this grant,
DESIRED EFFECTIVE DATE: upon adoption
REQUESTED INTRODUCTION DATE: October 6, 2025
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING DATE:
REQUESTED AGENDA: Consent
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL COMMITTEE: Finance & Economic Development
AFFECTED AGENCIES: N/A
RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING ORD. OR RES: Budget Ordinance
ATTACHMENTS:
STAFF: Thomas, Laura C., Smart Michael, A.