Cascade November 2024

A Rural Virginia Perspective on Utility Scale Solar By Cindy Burbank Member of Fauquier Climate Change Group Warrenton, Virginia Many Sierra Club members may be taken aback that rural counties in Virginia are balking at utility scale solar (USS) developments. As a resident of rural Fauquier County, I’d like to try to explain. I also want to highlight an exemplary USS project – Alameda Solar – that will be up for approval here in coming months. Fauquier County has a long history of protecting our rural and agricultural heritage and the beautiful landscape that surrounds us. We are a county with a population of just 74,000, in the Virginia Piedmont, just south of the hustle of Northern Virginia. Picture small historic towns, rolling farmland, the Shenandoah Mountains in the West. We are horse country and wine country. We treasure this, and so Fauquier has decades of protective land use planning based on channeling development into specific service districts while preserving farmland and open space. Full Article

Zero In on Waste with Fairfax County By Matt Adams Solid Waste Management Program's Division Director Fairfax County Fairfax County produces over 3,288 tons of waste per day- the same weight as 572 elephants!   Thanks to your hard work, we divert 44% of that “trash” through recycling, reusing, and composting.  But we still have work to do. If our current waste management practices are left unchecked, we will create even more waste. That could lead to higher trash disposal costs, impact environmental quality, and affect our county’s health and livability.   To address this concern, Fairfax County approved the Community-Wide Energy and Climate Action Plan (CECAP) with the goal of achieving zero waste by 2040 by diverting 90% of trash from landfills. The Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services has identified the following proposed countywide waste management strategies that can help us meet this 90% diversion goal: Full Article

The Snyder Trail: Balancing connectivity with protection of natural resources by Douglas Stewart Great Falls Group Sierra Club Executive Committee member The George Snyder Trail in Fairfax City has become a topic in local elections, with some candidates for Mayor and City Council highlighting their opposition to the proposed trail. Since the Sierra Club has been the subject of misstatements regarding this project, it’s important to set the record straight. A recent political mailer sent to many Fairfax City residents erroneously characterized the Sierra Club as opposing the Snyder Trail. We have never opposed the trail, but we have recognized the challenges the trail poses in balancing connectivity and protection of natural resources. Full Article   Regional Context Map Photo credit: Fairfax City

Fundraiser to Support Sierra Club Virginia Chapter WHEN: Sunday November 10, 5:00 - 7:00 pm. WHERE: Residence in McLean, VA Come meet Sierra Club Executive Director Ben Jealous and Virginia Chapter Director Connor Kish and local volunteer leaders! Come learn more about our wonderful Chapter and the important work we have been doing in Virginia. Every gift - of any size -  is meaningful.100% of your donation will stay in Virginia and will be put to work supporting the programs and campaigns that you care the most about. Campaigns include stopping new gas pipelines, building new offshore wind, and establishing data center building regulations. As the data center capital of the world, Virginia is seeing relentless growth, with over 300 data centers in operation or proposed across the commonwealth. This explosive growth leads to degraded air. Ben Jealous, Sierra Club Executive Director, will join us November 10.   Ben Jealous was the NAACP chairman for many years before he joined Sierra Club. Connor Kish has a unique viewpoint on politics and the environment in our state capitol. He has played a significant role in securing climate policy accomplishments in the Commonwealth including the passage of Virginia’s Advanced Clean Car standards, strengthening oversight of utility monopolies and preserving the Virginia Clean Economy Act.  RSVP: https://vasierra.club/NovemberFundraiser SPONSOR: Sierra Club Virginia Chapter CONTACT: connor.kish@sierraclub.org To donate if you can’t attend, please use this link and click on the link ”Donate” button:  https://www.sierraclub.org/virginia

Sierra Club Virginia Gathering  Nov 15 through Nov 17 Join the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter’s Annual Gathering in Natural Bridge, VA in the Blue Ridge Mountains! This weekend-long event is a special event dedicated to celebrating our shared commitment to environmental stewardship and grassroots action. There will be fun outdoor events, educational programs and guest speakers, a Saturday night live music party, and plenty of time to hike, rest and rejuvenate. It will bring inspiration, engaging discussions, shared community, and actionable insights. Whether you are a long-time Sierra Club supporter or new to our mission, this gathering is an opportunity to deepen your engagement with fellow environmentalists and amplify your impact. Space is limited. Register today to reserve your spot!

Volunteering is good for the environment! 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 can open 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.  See the opportunities

Data Center University   As the data center capitol of the world, Virginia knows first-hand the true impacts of these massive facilities on communities. On November 20th at 12:30 PM join Sierra Club Virginia Chapter leaders and staff for a presentation on how data center increase pollution, decrease water quality and access, and drive up utility bills for families.

Register!

For the GFG weekly environmental events email, join the  listserv here  and select subscribe (or unsubscribe). Sierra Club Outings 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

​Ivy Main, Renewable Energy Chair for Sierra Club's Virginia Chapter Power for the People Virginia Recent posts from Ivy Main's blog on energy-related matters in Virginia. Is sewage sludge laced with ‘forever chemicals’ contaminating Va. farmland?