There are no shortage of opportunities to get involved this fall. We have an important election for Virginia coming in up in November with the Governor’s race. FACS brought you Democratic Candidate Ralph Northam in August to discuss the future of energy for Virginia and now brings Republican Candidate Ed Gillespie’s views to you on the same topic later this month. Be informed! Keep reading to learn how FACS is creating opportunities for you to stay engaged – from information-sharing events, to local advocacy, to lectures and film screenings.
A Dialogue on Virginia’s Energy Future with Generra Peck,
Ed Gillespie’s Policy Director
You are invited to a special webinar on Tuesday, October 17 at
1:00 pm when FACS engages in a dialogue on our energy
future with Republican candidate for Governor Ed Gillespie’s
Policy Director, Generra Peck.
Many of you attended our event with Democratic candidate
Ralph Northam in August. This is your chance to hear responses to many of the same questions and issues from Ed Gillespie’s team. FACS is a nonpartisan, interfaith nonprofit organization in Northern Virginia. We empower and unite neighbors of all faiths to achieve real climate solutions, right now.
Click here to register for the webinar.
Solar on the Schools event and next steps
The school board meeting on Sept 28 was well
attended by supporters of solar panels on the Fairfax
County Schools. Visit the Facebook page to see videos
of the students’ impressive testimonies. We will
continue working with the Sierra Club Great Falls Chapter to support Solar on the Schools. Anyone interested in participating in meetings with their school board representative about this issue can contact us.
Creation Care Showcase 
Thanks to Interfaith Power & Light (MD.DC.NoVA), our host Unity of Fairfax and everyone that came, the Creation Care Showcase on Sunday, October 1st was a big success. Congregations across Northern Virginia gathered together to share their green projects and initiatives with each other. Couldn’t make it? Stay tuned for upcoming FACS Community Council events and meetings. Save the date for the FACS Community Council Strategic Planning Session on Friday, January 19th from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Call for Advocacy Leaders
FACS is reorganizing its advocacy and outreach to elected leaders in Fairfax County by forming advocacy teams in each Board of Supervisor’s district. This enables us to more effectively and consistently communicate the faith communities’ concern for our shared environment and climate change. David Kepley, FACS Board Member and ruling elder and deacon at Providence Presbyterian Church in Fairfax, is leading FACS’ advocacy efforts.
FACS’ current focus is to encourage the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors (BOS) to adopt a budget for an Energy and Climate office to continue deepening and expanding energy efficiencies, renewable energy, and to keep pace with other leading jurisdictions. We are scheduling meetings with the BOS over the next couple months to get ahead of the advertised 2019 budget, which will be released in January 2018. If you are interested in being a part of one of these teams, please contact us at info@faithforclimate.org.
FACS Community Council Survey 
We are working on updating our information and gathering your interests in an effort to better serve you. Members of the FACS Community Council please complete the survey by October 20th (it should take approximately 10-15 minutes). We look forward to continuing to partner with you and deepening our work together.
Lecture: Making America Green
Mark Jacobson, Stanford Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering will lecture at George Mason University on Transitioning to 100% Renewables by 2050. Jacobson has received research awards from the American Meteorological Society and the American Geophysical Union, as well as a 2016 Cozzarelli Prize from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences for the “outstanding scientific excellence and originality” of his influential paper on providing grid reliability with 100% wind, water, and solar power.
Time/Date: 12:00 p.m. October 12th
Location: The HUB, Ballroom, Fairfax Campus
For more information, please contact Dave Kuebrich dkuebric@gmu.edu
Plastics in the Ocean
The Great Falls Sierra Club is showing the film A Plastic Ocean which investigates how the world’s increasing addiction to plastic is impacting the food chain and how that is effecting new and developing human health problems. The producers aim to change the world’s attitude toward plastic within a generation. Clean Fairfax’s message is its work to end single-use bottled water at County events. Learn details on work developing a plastic fee for Fairfax County. RSVP
Time: Wed, Oct 18, 2017 6:30 PM
Location: Oakton Library
10304 Lynnhaven Pl
Oakton, VA 22124
CONTACT: Susan Weltz s.weltz@yahoo.com
In peace,
Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions
