Regional Leaders Press for Better Alternatives to More 495 HOT Lanes
by Douglas Stewart Great Falls Group Sierra Club Executive Committee member
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
High-Occupancy Toll Lanes have already been built on much of I-495 in Virginia, and the Virginia Department of Transportation believes that extending them into Maryland is inevitable. But regional leaders are advocating for better alternatives that focus more on transit options and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Learn more about the 495 Southside HOT lanes proposal and Sierra Club’s efforts.
If you want to learn more and help advocate for better alternatives to HOT lanes on 495, we’d love to hear from you! Contact Douglas Stewart of the Sierra Club Great Falls Group, at douglasbstewart@gmail.com.
Bird Safe Northern Virginia
by Meghan Violet Great Falls Group Newsletter Editor
Every year, more than one billion birds die from window collisions in the US by mistaking reflections on clear glass with open air.
These collisions are a leading cause of bird mortality and are exacerbated by artificial light. Light that traps birds, who fly around them in confusion, depleting their energy and disorienting them from their migration routes. Tom Blackburn, the Advocacy Chair of the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance explains that skyglow from light pollution “causes disturbances not only to birds but to basically all wildlife”.
Loudoun County Data Center Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Zoning Ordinance Amendment
By Natalie Pien Executive Committee member, Sierra Club Great Falls Group; Board of Directors Piedmont Environmental Council; Board of Directors Chesapeake Climate Action Network
"We are in a climate emergency and Virginia must reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. Instead, Virginia’s greenhouse gas emissions will increase due to Dominion Energy’s plans to meet data center demand."
Loudoun County is home to the Data Center Alley through which 70% of global internet traffic passes each day. This is the result of the confluence of several favorable conditions i.e. location, infrastructure, tax benefits, and over 14 years of fast track promotion in Loudoun County by the Department of Economic Development. There are more than 3,500 technology companies housed within Loudoun’s data centers. Currently, more than 30 million square feet of data centers are operational with another 5 million in development. In Loudoun County, more than 12,000 industry related jobs have been created.
According to a Northern VA Technology Council study, data centers have buffered Loudoun County as well as other NoVA municipalities from the ”Great Recession” of 2007-09, and then the federal sequester in 2013. Data centers generate significant revenue for both localities and the state, having a big, positive economic impact.
While the data center industry has had many benefits to Loudoun and Virginia, problems have arisen that require addressing and reconsidering business as usual for data center development. The huge energy requirement and that it was met by fossil fuel generated electricity was first identified in the 2019 GreenPeace Report “Clicking Clean Virginia. The Dirty Energy Powering Data Center Alley.” This report piqued the interest of very few people at the time. However, five years later, data centers have become a hot topic issue locally, in the Commonwealth, and nationally due to myriad negative impacts ranging from, but not limited to, environmental pollution, environmental justice, negative human health impacts, electrical grid stability, and climate change.
USGBC Building Transformation Forum: Data Centers
Tuesday, September 10, 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM
QTS Data Center Ashburn-Shellhorn, 2291 Shellhorn Road, Ashburn, VA 20147
Data center development is on the rise. With the exponential growth in AI, video consumption and cloud activity, data center power demands have surged, straining utilities and increasing carbon emissions. However, this growth may bring opportunities to create positive community impacts, if we can find ways to reduce power consumption and mitigate carbon emissions. The Forum will bring together data center, public sector, green building and energy professionals whose experience and thought leadership will offer a wide perspective on addressing the challenges of this rapidly evolving sector.
Attendees will:
Explore innovative solutions to drive data center decarbonization efforts;
See examples of the successful implementation of sustainability strategies at data centers through case studies of exemplary projects;
Engage in discussion highlighting how data centers can advance overall sustainability and quality of life in their surrounding communities.
Don’t miss this cross-sector convening delving into the critical role of data centers in our communities and in meeting decarbonization goals. Join us in shaping the future of data centers in our region!
REGISTRATION: $90 Click here to register.
CONTACT: community@usgbc.org
SPONSOR: US Green Building Council
EPA ENERGY STAR Virtual Workshop
Centering Energy Affordability in Low-Income Home Electrification Programs
Tuesday, September 10, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM ET
Residential Retrofits for Energy Equity (R2E2) is teaming up with the Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR program for this third workshop in a five-workshop series.
This workshop series and resource center is designed to support community-based organizations, small businesses, and local governments in deploying equitable efficient electric home upgrades.
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.
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.
