Fairfax Energy Strategy, Youth Climate March, Parks and Rec Month, Reinventing Power, Greenhouse Gas Session, Green and Solar Homes Tour
September 2018 Great Falls Group Cascade
Calendar of Significant Events

Sept 7 & 8 - Virginia Environmental Assembly

Sept. 13 - Transportation Electrification

Sept. 18 - Virginia Climate Crisis Forum

Sept. 22 - Plastic Free Forum

Sept. 23 - Hands Across the Appalachian Trail

Sept. 28 - Bag It film showing (about plastic)

Sept 28-30 - 2018 Annual Gathering

Oct 6 & 7 - Tour of Solar and Green Homes
From the Chair
The Sierra Club’s Great Falls Group (GFG) is ramping up for the fall elections and continuing our variety of activities especially related to clean energy and getting members involved.  

Upcoming Events and Information
Recycling Rescue
China is the largest importer of recyclable materials from the United States. But China may put a ban on our shipments, because of contamination (i.e. cleanliness, unsuitability of the materials). At the same time, we are running out of landfills. We need to to re-educate ourselves and improve our recycling standards if we are going to continue to recycle materials. The Virginia Recycling Association has more information for us.
50th Anniversary of the National Trails System Act
This month the United States celebrates the 50th anniversary of the National Trails System Act, enacted on October 2, 1968. Here in the Mid-Atlantic region we are fortunate to live near many of these trails, but what exactly are National Trails?

Update on the VA Supreme Court and the Atlantic Coast Pipeline

The Virginia Supreme Court recently ruled against the Sierra Club in our effort to force the State Corporation Commission to review the Atlantic Coast Pipeline’s effect on ratepayers before the pipeline is built, rather than afterwards. We argued that the Virginia Affiliates Act requires public utilities (like Dominion Energy Virginia) to submit “contracts or arrangements” with affiliated companies (like its parent company, the controlling partner in the pipeline) to the SCC for approval before they take effect.

Although the Affiliates Act is clear on its face, the SCC had refused to enforce it, and the Court used contorted logic to side with the SCC. The Virginia Supreme Court thus joins the growing list of public leaders putting Dominion’s interests above those of Virginia consumers. You can read a discussion of the case in Ivy Main’s commentary for the Virginia Mercury.

Virginia Environmental Assembly
Registration now open!
WHEN: September 7 and 8
WHERE: School of Education
College of William & Mary
301 Monticello Avenue,
Williamsburg, VA 23185
DESCRIPTION: Bringing together conservation leaders from across Virginia, the Environmental Assembly offers a forum for discussion on key environmental issues. The weekend will feature the work of local organizations--including Preservation Virginia, James River Association, and Chesapeake Bay Foundation--to protect the historic and scenic value of the region. Topics to be discussed include sea level rise, environmental justice, pipelines, and Chesapeake Bay cleanup.
CONTACT: To learn more, contact admin@vcnva.org. Register here.
SPONSOR: Virginia Conservation Network, a partnership of over 100 environmental organizations working together to create a powerful, diverse, highly-coordinated conservation movement in the Commonwealth
The Future of Transportation Electrification:
Utility, Industry and Consumer Perspectives
WHEN: September 13, 1:30 - 3 PM
WHERE: Participants should  register  in advance; download the report at  http://feur.lbl.gov.
(The webinar will be recorded/archived at  http://feur.lbl.gov/  along with the reports/slides.)
DETAILS: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) will present this webinar to discuss a new report, The Future of Transportation Electrification: Utility, Industry and Consumer Perspectives .

This webinar will focus on electric vehicles (EVs) and charging systems. 
Virginia Climate Crisis Forum: Solutions to Climate Change
WHEN: Tuesday, September 18, 7:30 PM (doors open at 7 PM.)
WHERE: James Madison High School, 2500 James Madison Drive, Vienna, VA 22181
DETAILS: Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions (FACS) invites you to attend an important discussion of how Virginia is affected by climate change. Speakers include U.S. Senator Tim Kaine; Fairfax County Supervisor Dan Storck; Samantha Adhoot, MD, FAAP, Chair and Co-founder, Virginia Clinicians for Climate Action; Major General Rick Devereaux, USAF (Ret.), Former Director of Operational Planning, Policy, & Strategy, U.S. Air Force Advisory Board, Center for Climate and National Security; and other experts. Moderated by Rev. Dr. Jean Wright. Free of Charge. Space Limited.
SPONSOR: Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions
Plastic Free Forum
Join like-minded people to learn how we can reduce our plastic footprint!
WHEN: Saturday, September 22, 10 AM - noon
WHERE: Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA 22066
DETAILS: How many ways can you reduce your plastic use? Join us for a panel discussion of single-use plastics. Each panelist will tackle the issue of plastic pollution from different perspectives: as consumer, activist, academic, and local legislator. We'll also have representatives from numerous climate, environmental, and waste-related organizations on hand to answer your questions.
CONTACT: For more information, contact 350fairfax@gmail.com.  RSVP
SPONSORS: 350Fairfax, Sierra Club Great Falls Group, NOVA Trash Action Work Force, Friends of Accotink Creek, Clean Fairfax, Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions, EcoAction Arlington
Hands Across the Appalachian Trail
WHEN: Sunday, September 23, 1 – 3 pm
WHERE: Bears Den, 18393 Blue Ridge Mountain Rd., Bluemont, VA 20135
CONTACT: GFG


DESCRIPTION: Join hands with us to protect our land, communities and the Appalachian Trail from the unnecessary and unwanted onslaught of natural gas pipelines. Hands Across the Appalachian Trail is our community response to protect our valued natural parks and environment. JOIN HANDS with us to ensure the Trail remains protected. Bring signs, hear live music and a few short speeches. Then we will stretch our joined hands for a photo shoot.
Bring a reusable water bottle--water refills provided. Short hike to beautiful Bear’s Den Overlook.
SPONSORS: Sierra Club Virginia Chapter, 350 Loudoun, Sierra Club Great Falls group, Mount Vernon group and Shenandoah group, Sustainable Loudoun, Greater Prince William Climate Action Network and more!
Film Screening: Bag It
WHEN: Friday, September 28, 7:30 PM
WHERE: Sanctuary, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, 2709 Hunter Mill Road, Oakton, VA 22124
DETAILS: This award-winning film gives a serious–yet often humorous–overview of the plastic challenges that we face. From oceans to landfills, from streets to wildlife, to health and more, you will leave knowing why it's important to reduce plastic use and the strategies to do so. You can view the trailer on YouTube.
CONTACT: GFG
SPONSORS: UUCF Climate Action Group, Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions, 350 Fairfax, Clean Fairfax, Friends of Accotink Creek, Green Muslims, NOVA Trash Action Work Force, Sierra Club Great Falls Group, Climate Reality Project, EcoArlington, Greater Prince William Climate Action Network
Annual Gathering - Sierra Club Virginia Chapter
DETAILS: Every year, Sierra Club members and supporters from all parts of Virginia spend a weekend together eating, drinking, dancing, learning, playing, hiking, enjoying nature, and networking. Events include a variety of programming options ranging from organized hikes and other outdoor activities to campaign workshops and presentations from experts and the Virginia Chapter staff — and much more!

Note: Only single camping remains.  

Homeowners Wanted for This Fall's Tour of Solar and Green Homes
WHEN : Open house tour is on Saturday and Sunday, October 6-7, 11 AM-5 PM.

CONTACT : Call Charlie Garlow at 301-312-7703 if you have questions. Or, sign up by sending your information to  John.essig@mases.org .
DETAILS : This is the metro area's annual nonprofit educational event to let folks see real solar homes and ask questions of real homeowners — not just salespeople. You can also show off electric cars, water barrels, radiant floor heating, and any other green features that you want to share. In addition, electric vehicle owners would be willing to show their cars at your home if you'd like to add them to your green features. This is a chance to share your knowledge and experiences with others who are eager to Go Solar.

SPONSORS : the Mid-Atlantic Solar Energy Society (MASES) and the Maryland, DC, Virginia Solar Energy Industries Association (MDV-SEIA)

Visit  Solartour.org  for more details.
Update on Recent Events
Film — Reinventing Power: America's Renewable Energy Boom,  July 24
The inspiring film, Reinventing Power: America’s Renewable Energy Boom was presented at the Sierra Club Great Falls group meeting in Centreville on July 24, 2018.
The film provided real-life examples that demonstrate the growing adoption of clean energy power across the U.S. To find stories to share in the film, Brennon Edwards, CEO of Transit Pictures, worked with the Sierra Club to reach out through its dozens of local chapters to find people whose lives were impacted by renewable energy.

We had a good group of 20 attendees and a lively discussion afterwards. If you want to show this film to your group, please contact GFG and we can provide the film and projector.



( Sponsor : Sierra Club Great Falls Group)
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