Governor Youngkin announced his proposed 2024-2026 Biennial State Budget on Wednesday, December 20. The Virginia General Assembly (GA) will hold virtual regional public hearings on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, beginning at 10 am.
Our environment is worth protecting – so make your voice heard! Fairfax County residents are encouraged to share their view on the state of the environment with the Environmental Quality Advisory Council (EQAC) on or before January 10. EQAC is appointed by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to advise them on environmental matters.
Each year the council invites the public to submit comments on environmental issues of concern. While the timing of the comment period coincides with the publication of EQAC’s Annual Report on the Environment, it is not specific to the report but to environmental issues more broadly. There are 3 ways for residents to provide input:
Submit written testimony by email to EQAC@fairfaxcounty.gov by 5 p.m. on January 5. Please include your full name, address, and phone number with your email submission.
Record and upload a short video testimony to by January 5. Videos of 3 minutes or less can be uploaded to YouTube, Ustream or Vimeo and the URL sent to EQAC@fairfaxcounty.gov by 5 p.m. on January 5. Videos will be screened prior to the meeting and any submission containing profanity or objectionable material will not be shown during the meeting.
Sign up to speak at the public meeting on January 10, 2024. The meeting starts at 7:15 p.m. and will take place in Conference Room 4/5 of the Fairfax County Government Center. Residents can testify in person or by audio or video through Zoom. To be added to the speakers list, send an email to EQAC@fairfaxcounty.gov by 5 p.m. on January 5.
Learn more about EQAC and the public comment meeting on the EQAC webpage.
Gas-powered Leaf Blower Ban
Gas Leaf Blower Bill and Richmond Action: Quiet Clean NOVA seeks to restrict or ban the use of gas-powered leaf blowers, and promotes the electrification of all landscape equipment and the adoption of sustainable lawn-care practices. The group is organizing an action in Richmond on January 11th to make sure that bills to give VA jurisdictions the power to regulate gas-powered leaf blowers are heard. The group will blow (rented) gas blowers (with ear protection) in Richmond for an hour or so on January 11th wearing t-shirts, and will then go speak to legislators. To sign up or for any questions, email Samantha Ahdoot: atkinssam@yahoo.com
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.
FACS helped Rock Spring United Church of Christ improve their energy efficiency.
WHAT: Why is my sanctuary so cold? HVAC, heat pumps, and financing!
DESCRIPTION : Scott Donelson, President of Home Energy Medics, and Alison Derevensky, Enterprise Associate with BlocPower will share their insights on building energy efficiency and renewable energy project management and financing. Congregation green leads will also give firsthand accounts of successful HVAC, heat pump upgrades.
DESCRIPTION: For the first time since before the pandemic, Sierra Club/Virginia Chapter is bringing back the Sierra Club lobby day at the Capitol during the General Assembly session. Those who register for the event will receive additional details ahead of the date, but what you can generally expect is:
On January 18, an early morning meeting in Richmond around 7:30 AM to get ready for the day.
Lobbying legislators and staff in the General Assembly Building and Capitol from 8:30 to 11:30 AM.
A Chapter-provided catered lunch from about 12 to 2 PM!
Heading home by 3 PM.
CONTACT: Click here for more information and to RSVP.
SPONSOR: Sierra Club/Virginia Chapter
Sad News for Prince William County
On Wednesday December 13, proponents of the Digital Gateway, a proposal to build the largest data center campus in the world, prevailed on a 4-3-1 vote. Chair Wheeler, Supervisors Angry, Bailey and Franklin voted in favor. Supervisor Boddye, who had voiced concerns on inadequate sustainability and clean energy measures chose to abstain, a de facto approval of the project. The vote, which came after an all night public hearing starting on Tuesday (Ann Bennett testified for the Sierra Club at 2 a.m. Wednesday), approves over 30 data centers on rural land directly adjacent to Manassas National Battlefield Park.
The county decided to put all 3 rezonings up for public hearing together and force interested residents and advocates to testify all night instead of over several days.
Opposed by dozens of environmental and historic preservation organizations, it was also twice denied by county staff as not in conformance with the county's comprehensive plan. Of concern was the lack of adequate requirements for "alternative green energy" and a lack of specific information in the application.
That the public was asked to testify all hours of the night has become a feature of Prince William's "public" process. Residents who work and have families to care for cannot be expected to stay up all night. Board members were falling asleep. Let's hope the next Board embraces transparency and good governance procedures for its residents.
Lastly, with a controversial and divisive vote pushed through during a lame duck session before a change in Board leadership, the public has to wonder what was the rush?
Establishment of the Virginia Data Center Reform Coalition
Sierra Club Virginia Chapter has joined the new Virginia Data Center Reform Coalition to expand efforts to encourage the General Assembly to begin to deal with the significant impacts of the data center build out. An outgrowth of the work of three dozen local, state and national groups on the Prince William Digital Gateway, it is clear that both local and state regulation is needed to mitigate the myriad number of energy, water, noise and infrastructure impacts that is a byproduct of this industry.
Virginia Data Center Reform Coalition news conference
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.
In announcing the new coalition in November, its goals are clear. The Virginia Data Center Reform Coalition is asking Virginia’s state government to step in — to require more transparency around land use decisions affecting the lives of Virginians and around energy and water usage that carries significant implications for both local communities and the rest of the Commonwealth. The coalition is asking the state to require that data center developers mitigate the negative environmental impacts of this industry and to shift the cost of new transmission lines and power generation onto the industry players, rather than on the backs of Virginia’s ratepayers.
After the whirl of the holidays comes a natural urge to clear out, declutter, and start a new year fresh and clean. What most people don’t realize is that what you clean with, and how, is as important to the planet as it is to your home. Many cleaning products are laden with chemicals that contaminate the water table and harm human health. These products also come in plastic packaging that is difficult to recycle.
The good news is that there are many affordable, accessible ways to clean up your house without causing damage to our planet Earth. Waste from cleaning products like single-use wipes and paper towels, aerosol sprays, and more can be avoided quite easily, saving money and reducing the amount of garbage that goes into the waste stream.
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.
