Now Accepting Board Nominations!

The Nominating Committee of FACS' Board of Directors is currently accepting applications to serve on its volunteer board. We hope to receive nominations that demonstrate a diverse, dedicated, and talented pool of candidates. We welcome candidates across Northern Virginia representing a variety of faith traditions, professional experience, ages, genders, and ethnicities. Individuals with a strong background in finance and/or fund development are highly encouraged to apply. Above all, we seek candidates passionate about climate action and mobilizing the faith community to implement local solutions to the climate crisis. The deadline to nominate an individual is July 23, 2021. Learn more about the nominating and election processes/schedules and nominate a candidate.

 

Upcoming Events

Sustainability Champions Awards

Tomorrow! Don’t miss our 4th Annual Sustainability Champions Awards on Wednesday, June 2 at 5:00 p.m. We’ll honor five local climate heroes and hear from keynote speaker Rev. Dr. Jim Antal. Learn more about the 2021 champions and how to watch the ceremony.

Justice for Justice Park

Environmental and community advocates in Mason District are trying to prevent Fairfax County from relinquishing up to two acres of parkland in Justice Park for use as a paved satellite parking lot for Justice High School, which is located just across the street. Justice Park, created in 1961, is the only local park in Baileys/Seven Corners area that is at least half as big as local parks in newer developed areas of the county. It serves a densely populated area that is highest-ranked for socioeconomic needs in the County and has among the lowest amount of parkland per capita. Many park users  live in high-rise and apartment buildings with no yards, and use affected areas of the park for informal games of soccer. More than 750 citizens have signed a petition asking the county to rethink its proposal. So far, FCPS and FCPA have not provided any alternatives.

Park advocates invite the public to an open house at Justice Park on Saturday, June 5 to learn more about the county proposal, see the areas that would be affected, and visit the "hidden side" of the park, where the Master Park Plan calls for connective trails. The event will take place from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at 3312 Peace Valley Lane, Falls Church. Spanish translation will be provided. (Rain date: June 6).

 

Advocacy Updates

Sustainable Regional Transportation

June will be a critical month for shaping a sustainable transportation system in the DC region. Local elected officials representatives on the Transportation Planning Board will decide on whether to pursue a regional plan that helps achieve our climate targets. Thanks to the efforts of FACS members and other citizens throughout the region, 150 of 229 comments submitted during the plan's April public comment period focused on climate action. For more background, read this article on the regional transportation plan by FACS member Bill Pugh. Stay tuned for updates and how you can help.

 

Faith Community Spotlight

On March 23, the National Capital Presbytery voted to divest its holdings in fossil fuel companies.

What does this mean and why does it matter?

Learn more about why the presbytery decided not to profit off that which harms others in our latest blog post written by David Kepley, FACS Board Member and Secretary.

 

Hub Updates

Fairfax County

  • The next FACS monthly advocacy webinar is scheduled for Wednesday, June 9 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time. Email us if you need the Zoom link.
  • The next Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Environmental Committee (BOSEC) meeting will take place Tuesday, June 15 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time. Materials will be posted here and the meeting can be viewed on Channel 16 or streamed online. 
  • The Fairfax County School Board will conduct a work session on Tuesday, June 22 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. to discuss the recommendations from the Joint Environmental Task Force report. The board will review the Net Zero Energy Study as part of this discussion. Materials and additional information will be available here.

Prince William County

  • Join us Sunday, June 27 at 2:00 p.m. at the Sean T. Connaughton Plaza in Woodbridge for a FACS Panel on Climate Change. We will feature various speakers, including US Representative Gerry Connolly, discussing climate change, climate mitigation efforts in Prince William County, why you should get involved in climate action, and how to take steps to mitigate the climate crisis. Register here.

City of Alexandria

Arlington County

  • The Arlington hub had its first meeting on Wednesday, May 19. Attendees represented seven faith communities and an incredible wealth of knowledge and experience. We will start working on defining areas of interest, education needs and opportunities, and future steps at our next meeting on June 9 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern time. Sign up to join the Arlington advocacy team and email Tom O’Reilly for the June 9 Zoom link.

Montgomery County

  • Community Choice Energy was approved by the Maryland Legislature and is awaiting the Governor's signature. This will allow Montgomery County to run a pilot program to become an energy supplier of clean electricity to everyone living here on an opt out basis. It will start in 2023.
  • The International Green Construction Code has been submitted by the County Exec to the Council.  This will tighten energy construction requirements for new commercial buildings.
    The County Exec submitted a Climate Action Plan (CAP) to the County Council for major reductions in greenhouse gases. A coalition of 24 environmental groups from the county has formed to study the CAP.
  • The Energy Benchmarking bill is three years old and requires all larger commercial buildings to publish their energy use. This is being expanded to include multifamily residential buildings.
  • The Building Energy Performance Standards bill has been sent to the County Council. This will require all the buildings that must do Energy Benchmarking to reduce their energy use on a regular basis.
  • If you are interested in more information, email Walter Weiss.
 

Staff Update

After four years as Executive Director of FACS, Meg Mall will be transitioning to a new position with RE Tech Advisors. She will be leading their government portfolio, including their work with the U.S. Department of Energy. FACS has grown and matured under her leadership. I will personally miss her organizational skills, her clear vision of FACS’ mission, and her warm personality. Meg’s final day with FACS will be June 18. There are no good times to lose someone as important to the health of an organization as Meg is. The FACS Board, under the leadership of David Kepley, is developing our recruitment strategy for a new Executive Director. We are happy that Meg has seized this job opportunity for her own development and will arrange time in the near future to recognize and celebrate the gifts that she’s given to FACS.   
 

Eric Goplerud
Chair, Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions

 
 

Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions
PO Box 2012  | Reston, Virginia 20195
703-239-3748 | info@faithforclimate.org

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