DETAILS: It’s all systems go for the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project. However, the picture is currently not so clear for other East Coast offshore wind projects. Learn about the challenges overcome and still facing offshore wind, the implications of those challenges on our one current Virginia project AND future offshore wind projects in the works off Virginia’s coast.
Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions Secures Federal Award to Boost Energy Efficiency in Northern Virginia Faith Communities
The Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions (FACS) has recently been awarded the Buildings UP Prize by the Department of Energy. Buildings UP supports scalable and equitable projects to facilitate the transition towards energy-efficient and clean energy-ready buildings.
Bull Run Unitarian Universalists: A Green Sanctuary Pioneering Carbon Neutrality
In December and January FACS can help Northern Virginia faith communities through the process of making their places of worship more energy efficient. In most cases it would start with a free energy audit in December. FACS offers you and your congregation a free assessment of the energy use of the congregation’s facilities, identify opportunities for cutting energy waste and utility bills, secure funding, and make energy efficiency upgrades. Discover the inspiring stories of faith communities that have begun implementing energy efficiency measures. Explore the three communities below to find real-life examples that may ignite the passion and commitment of your congregation.
Peace Lutheran Church in Alexandria Leading the Way
Bull Run Unitarian Universalists: A Green Sanctuary Pioneering Carbon Neutrality
Rock Spring United Church of Christ's Decades-Long Commitment to Climate Action
Walk in Manassas National Battlefield Park: The "Battle" of Pageland Lane: Data Centers & National Parks
On Sunday, December 3, guides and guest speakers explained the devastating impact the proposed Prince William Digital Gateway data center project will have on the environmental, historic, and economic future of the battlefield and surrounding area. For additional info: Coalition to Protect Prince William County
SPONSORS: Sierra Club Potomac Region Outings (SCPRO) and the Great Falls Group of the Sierra Club’s Virginia Chapter
On Saturday, December 2nd, over 450 advocates banded together at our 13 in-person Regional Watch Parties across the state or tuned in virtually to “preview” the critical environmental legislative action upcoming in the 2024 General Assembly.
This is your best chance to hear about anticipated environmental legislation from statewide environmental experts and meet other conservation advocates from your area
SPONSORS: Virginia Conservation Network, Sierra Club Great Falls Group, Audubon Society of Northern Virginia
Virginia Data Center Reform Coalition Held Dec. 1 Press Conference
Source: Piedmont Environmental Council
Nonprofit organizations, homeowners’ groups, and residents from all over Virginia have joined forces to form a coalition that is calling for industry-wide data center reform.
Several members of the Virginia Data Center Reform Coalition at an early meeting in Warrenton.
On Friday, Dec. 1, at 11 a.m. at the Clearbrook Center for the Arts, 2230 Tacketts Mill Dr. B, Lake Ridge, Va., this Virginia Data Center Reform Coalition hosted a press conference to demand accountability from this industry and to speak with the media about the data center impacts faced by their communities.
The coalition is made up of more than 20 environmental, conservation, historic preservation, and climate advocacy groups, as well as representatives of communities and neighborhoods across the state. Together, they are urging the state to study the cumulative effects of data center development on the state’s electrical grid, water resources, air quality, and land conservation efforts, and to institute several common-sense regulatory and rate-making reforms for this industry.
“Our young people’s future is at risk with uncontrolled growth of energy hungry data centers. Dominion says it can’t produce 100% renewable electricity by 2045, as required by the Virginia Clean Economy Act, due to the spread of these voracious consumers of energy. Reducing greenhouse gas pollution must remain our priority,” says Rev. Dr. Jean Wright, Co-Founder, Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions (FACS) and Loudoun FACS Hub Lead, and member, Sierra Club Great Falls Group
“Virginia has the largest data center market in the world, yet our regulatory oversight is behind other large markets in Europe and Asia that have also experienced data center demand exceeding available resources. The cumulative impacts of energy consumption, water usage, and thousands of backup diesel generators are not well understood, but already ratepayers are being asked to pay billions to expand electric infrastructure to generate and deliver massive amounts of power to the large hub in Loudoun.” Julie Bolthouse, director of land use of The Piedmont Environmental Council
We have new opportunities for volunteers in the Sierra Club Great Falls Group. See nine ideas here to find some that are a fit for you. Local volunteering for the environment helps you and your community by:
Cutting down on emissions by traveling close to home
Giving you a sense of belonging in your own community
Opening you socially to more people in your area
Supporting local projects and people
Teaching you more about your community and other ways to help.
The personal connections you can gain from volunteering locally canopen you up to a wide range of advantages.
Not only will you make new friends but you’ll also be able to develop relationships in the long-term for as long as you live in the area. You learn more about what’s going on in your area, like events, groups and clubs, and more.
For the GFG weekly environmental events email, join thelistserv here and select subscribe (or unsubscribe).
The MeetUp group for Sierra Club Potomac Region Outings (SCPRO) is a special activities section of the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter. The group organizes hikes and other events in Virginia, DC and Maryland. No Sierra Club membership is necessary to participate. SCPRO welcomes all people on a variety of outdoor adventures, nature walks, conservation outings, and exploration of our natural and regional history. Join SCPRO MeetUp here
Power for the People Virginia
A recent post from Ivy Main's blog on energy-related matters in Virginia.
