August 2020 Great Falls Group Cascade
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As people across the country protest in defense of Black lives, the Sierra Club recognizes the need to dismantle systemic racism in the United States and within our own organization. We must reckon with how white supremacy -- both past and present -- has shaped our institutions and do the critical anti-racism work necessary to repair the harm done. The environmental movement does not exist in a vacuum, and it is our responsibility to use our power to help abolish systemic racism which is destroying lives, communities, and the planet. -- from Sierra Club Virginia Chapter
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Significant Events Calendar
Aug. 4
-
General Assembly Special Session Preview
Aug. 4 or 5 -
Online Workshop: Energy Democracy in Virginia & the Dominion energy system
Aug. 5
- Energy Storage Webinar
Aug.11
- Offshore Wind Virtual
Lunch & Learn
Aug, 12
- Utility-scale Solar and Offshore Wind Webinar
Aug. 19
- Offshore Wind Webinar
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Source: Sierra Club Virginia Chapter
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The Atlantic Coast Pipeline Is CANCELLED!!!
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On Sunday, July 5, Dominion Energy and Duke announced that they have cancelled the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, the 600-mile, $8B fracked-gas pipeline that would have crossed West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina and potentially have extended into South Carolina.
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Would you like to volunteer to accomplish the same thing with the MVP?
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Purple Air Monitors Update
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Things were going pretty much as planned.
Our Air, Your Future: Creating Clean Air Advocates
was successfully reaching out to 200 plus students across the DMV, and then covid happened. The virus suspended the project----at least for the time being.The plan going forward is to continue supporting participating teachers for the upcoming school year. Whether in-person or online, the project can resume and it should.
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Would you like to have your school participate in the air monitoring?
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Student installing a Purple Air sensor to exterior wall of school. Source: Elizabeth Spike
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Clean Energy Virginia
: New
advantages for clean energy businesses
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Three webinars:
Energy Storage (August 5), Utility-Scale Solar and Onshore Wind (August 12) and Offshore Wind (August 19):
Wednesdays at 1:00 pm,
Governor Ralph Northam has launched
Clean Energy Virginia
, a new initiative to drive investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency and help meet the Commonwealth’s goals for clean energy production, which include powering 100 percent of Virginia’s electricity from carbon-free sources. This initiative comes on the heels of an historic General Assembly session in which the Governor signed legislation that will transform Virginia’s electric grid and create new business opportunities for the clean energy sector. The initiative includes webinars
on recent legislation that creates advantages for clean energy businesses to expand or locate in Virginia.
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For those of us thinking about cutting down on meat consumption to address health, animal welfare or environmental concerns, here’s another reason you may not have thought about: the impact of beef on the availability of water, a critical resource.
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Are you interested in this topic?
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A Texas Longhorn steer in Denver, Colorado. Photograph: Rick T Wilking/Getty Images
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Offshore Wind Virtual
Lunch & Learn
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WHEN: Tuesday, Aug.11; 12 noon
WHERE:
RSVP
for this
online event.
DETAILS: Want to learn about the relationship between clean energy and climate change? Want to learn about offshore wind generally? This is the meeting for you! Learn about the offshore wind farm that will be built off the coast of Virginia Beach, what wind turbines are, and why wind energy is important. Join us for entry-level information to introduce you to these exciting developments!
SPONSOR: Sierra Club/Virginia Chapter
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Source: Sierra Club Virginia Chapter
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We are working with District Supervisor staff and the Focus Group Liaisons to finalize the dates for the
Fairfax County Community-wide Energy and Climate Action Plan (CECAP)
Focus Group meetings. The July 29 Task Force meeting focused on the crucial topic of setting goals. Staff will be holding a series of virtual public meetings and opening an online survey to gather public feedback about the progress of the CECAP planning process. The Task Force will be reviewing that feedback at the September Task Force meeting. Attendees of the Dranesville Focus Group meeting July 22 noted the immense contributions of Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions, and discussed the importance of setting meaningful, attainable goals.
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Voter Turnout Drive
Sierra Independent Action is running a massive voter contact program focusing on the battleground states of Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Florida. Through its vast network, the Sierra Club has identified 1.3 million voters in those states who care about the environment, but who are either undecided or vote infrequently. The Sierra Club needs your help to get these voters motivated!
Find out how you can reach voters by writing letters, making phone calls, or sending text messages.
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Do you want to get involved by writing, calling, or texting members?
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Absentee Voting
Victoria Higgins, Field Manager for the Virginia Conservation Network, points out that the
deadline to request an absentee ballot for the November 3 general election is 5pm on Friday, October 23.
You can visit the Board of Elections website
now
to apply to vote by mail. It takes almost no time at all. Go to
https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation/Lookup/absentee
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Letters to the Editor Zoom Parties
Letters to the editor (LTEs) raise public awareness on issues. Often the editorial page, with its LTEs, is the most read section of the paper. Elected officials ask their staff to read LTEs to learn what issues are important to their constituents. Learn about upcoming monthly LTE Zoom parties and more on writing LTEs.
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The Great Falls Group Needs Your Assistance in Reorganizing
The Sierra Club Great Falls Group (GFG), is exploring reorganizing and renaming itself. What this means for you is that there are opportunities for you to get involved, use your skills, and make your voice heard in your local and regional area. We need your help and ideas on how to accomplish this. This can be a fun activity and getting to know your Sierra Club community members.
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Are you interested in getting involved with the reorg?
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Green
links are new links.
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COVID-19
The
COVID-19 crisis
has not passed and continues to
disproportionately harm
Black, Indigenous, and Latinx people and other communities of color. The pandemic has revealed how the communities hardest hit are often the same communities that suffer from high levels of pollution and poor access to healthcare. The fight for environmental justice cannot be separated from the fight for racial justice. -- from Sierra Club Virginia Chapter
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Ways to Stay in Touch with GFG
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Send comments or questions to the
editor
.
Thank you!
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