On October 17, 2022, the Sierra Club York River Group held its first ever roundtable meeting on climate solutions for the Southside of Hampton Roads. Sustainability managers and representatives from Southside localities provided updates on their existing and proposed programs working toward the goal of clean energy.

Opening remarks were given by Andria McClellan, Norfolk Council Member.  She was followed by guest speakers Ruth Amundsen, founder of Norfolk Solar, and Erik Shilts, Senior Director of Data Science at Rewiring America.

Roundtable Participants, in order of their presentations:

• Chesapeake – Brian Solis, Deputy City Manager
• Norfolk – Theresa Jennings, Department of General Services
• Portsmouth – Gina Harris, Resiliency Officer, Department of Social Services
• Virginia Beach – Trevor McPhail-Vuomo, Energy Manager, Virginia Beach City Schools

The closing speaker was Nadarius Clark, VA State Delegate.

A few relevant websites mentioned by the participants are linked here:

• askHRgreen.org - for a cleaner, greener Hampton Roads
• HRclimatehub.org - a Hampton Roads site with info about reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• norfolksolar.org - a solar deployment site for our region
• rewiringamerica.org - the leading electrification nonprofit