Over the last decade, Renew Rocktown has served as a coordinator and collaborator for efforts around environmental and social sustainability. As an alliance of organizations, we helped organize initiatives around clean energy, sustainable transportation, green spaces and gardens, waste reduction, local environmental policy & leadership, and more. As we build our own organizational capacity, we celebrate this history and impact locally.
Renew Rocktown has grown and been shaped by a variety of people and organizations over the last 10 years. We are grateful to have had support and leadership in different forms, at different times, from a variety of caring and committed individuals.
Below are a few snapshots from the past 10 years.
2015 – Renew Rocktown is Formed as a Project of New Community Project / Vine & Fig
Renew Rocktown forms as a project of the 501c3 non-profit New Community Project (NCP). As an alliance, Renew Rocktown brings together organizations focused on environmental and social sustainability around common efforts and initiatives.
November 2015 – Postcard to Paris
Renew Rocktown Alliance members like Climate Action Alliance of the Valley (CAAV) bring 150 residents together in front of Pale Fire Brewing. The effort culminated in a letter to world leaders in Paris to act on Climate, as well as a petition to Harrisonburg City Council to adopt “environmental performance standards for public and private development”.
January 2016 – Harrisonburg City Council Adopts Environmental Standards
Renew Rocktown coordinates local residents, including students, to support City Council in creating the “Environmental Performance Standards Advisory Committee” (EPSAC).
November 2016 – First Solar “Barn Raising”
Renew Rocktown members support and participate in the installation of a 180 solar panels on the roof of Gift and Thrift in Harrisonburg, VA. Soon after the effort, Renew Rocktown member Jeff Heie launched GiveSolar.
January 2017 – Heather Hunter-Nickels Hired as Part-Time Coordinator
Heather provides crucial coordination and planning for a variety of early efforts and initiatives around composting, transportation, clean energy, and the formation of the Sustainable Business Coalition.
October 2017 – Launch of the Harrisonburg & Rockingham Sustainable Business Coalition
Renew Rocktown brings together area business interested in tracking energy use and better integrating sustainability into their practices. RR coordinates quarterly meetings over the lifespan of the group.
April 2018 – “Cyclovia” Event Celebrates Biking and Community
Inspired by the weekly Ciclovia in Bogotá, Colombia, Renew Rocktown and partners host a family-friendly event with music, games, bike races, Zumba, yoga, and more.
April 2019 & 2020 – Visualizing Solar Generation and Potential in the Friendly City
In an effort to give visibility to solar generation in our community, and highlight the opportunity and need for more, RR and partners coordinate the first HR Solar Census. The effort helped visualize solar in Harrisonburg, at a time when the City was leading the state in solar generation per capita.
Later in 2020, RR supports the development of a Story Map documenting Harrisonburg’s Solar potential .
January 2020 – Harrisonburg Adopts an Environmental Action Plan
Renew Rocktown gathered feedback and mobilized community, business, and university support in 2018 & 2019 for Harrisonburg to adopt its first ever Environmental Action Plan. The plan was officially adopted by City Council in early 2020.
May 2020 – Renew Rocktown Establishes the 50 by 25 Campaign as Other Initiatives Sunset
The COVID-19 pandemic brings disruption. Renew Rocktown reorganizes behind a new campaign to continue without a paid coordinator. The 50 x25 mission advocates for Harrisonburg City to get 50% renewable energy in the city’s electric grid and 25% greater energy efficiency in school & municipal buildings by 2025.
2020 to 2024 – 50 by 25 Focusses on Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency with Partner Organizations
50 by 25 helps champion a variety of clean energy related efforts. During this period:
+ Harrisonburg submitted its first Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Report (September 2021)
+ Harrisonburg hired its first Sustainability and Environmental Manager (November 2021)
+ Harrisonburg Electric Commission (HEC) develops the “Acorn Solar Farm“ and Friendly City Solar Program (November 2022)
+ Harrisonburg Adopts Community Goals Addendum to Environmental Action Plan (October 2023)
+ Harrisonburg receives SolSmart: Silver designation (January 2024)
2023 & 2024 – Renew Rocktown and Climate Alliance of the Valley Secure Grant for Energy Efficiency Outreach
Building on previous weatherization outreach efforts, CAAV and Renew Rocktown secure grant funding from Clean Virginia to support area organizations in connecting their clients with no-cost weatherization and energy efficiency programs. The first funding cycle provided $35,000 to four local organizations, connecting 20+ energy burdened households with energy efficiency improvements through Community Housing Partners (CHP).
2025 – Renew Rocktown Grows
With an additional grant of $75,000 from Clean Virginia for energy efficiency outreach and stakeholder engagement, Renew Rocktown ends the 50 by 25 campaign and begins to build out and develop Renew Rocktown as a staffed non-profit. Everett Brubaker is hired on as Development Director to help facilitate a major fundraising effort along with board and organizational development.
