Arlington Greens Endorse Vihstadt for County Board Mid-term Election
January 17, 2014

Arlington Greens voted on January 16 to endorse independent candidate John Vihstadt for Arlington County Board election to be held this spring to fill the vacant seat left by the resignation of Chris Zimmerman.

Arlington Green Party Chair Steve Davis noted, “The Arlington Green Party endorsement of John Vihstadt shows that people across the political spectrum can find common ground in supporting independent-minded candidates like John who have a positive, inclusive vision for Arlington’s future. We look forward to working with John on his election campaign.”

This is the first county board election in the past seven years in which the Arlington Greens have not nominated their own candidate. This year the Greens have chosen to endorse Vihstadt who shares the Greens’ opposition to expensive vanity projects, such as the Columbia Pike trolley and the Long Bridge aquatics center, at the expense of funding core county programs such as schools, safety net spending, and affordable housing.

In 2013, the Arlington Greens nominated Audrey Clement who received about 32 percent of the votes cast against Democrat Jay Fisette. The Arlington Greens also supported in 2013 the creation of a housing authority to keep more affordable rental housing in the county.

More cities are banning the material used in everything from packing to takeout containers.

A homeowner in the Westover neighborhood of Arlington is promoting a bulk purchase for solar panels, coordinated bythe World Wildlife Fund. Individual homeowners anywhere in Arlington can sign up to get the bulk discount being organized by Community Power Network in conjunction with WWF.

Here’s the information:

The WWF’s Solar Bulk Purchase: install solar on the roof of your own house with a group of other homeowners so that it is easier and cheaper. Join us! www.CommunityPowerNetwork.com/WWF ”
According to this information, in addition to a discounted rate, you can get a 30% Federal tax credit (not deduction, but actual credit).

Apparently this would be a 3.34 kWatt system. The cost after an estimated group discount of $2,700 and the 30-percent federal tax credit would be about $7,000.

Your savings on electricity would vary, depending on your house, current electricity use, etc. Electricity today costs about 11 cents per kilowatt hour in Arlington. A typical house may save $40 per month or more from having a 3.35 kW solar system.