Our Mission

• A FACS initiative to enable jurisdictions to establish local green banks to serve low- and moderate-income communities was signed into law in Spring 2021. Fairfax County Chair Jeff McKay directed county staff to produce a plan to take advantage of this new law.
• A years-long struggle to pass a bill banning single-use foam food and beverage containers passed after FACS activists sent 469 emails to their state delegates and senators.
• FACS Sixth Annual Climate Crisis Forum focused on our children’s future. It featured a local high school litigant and a lawyer from Our Children’s Trust, and County Board Chairs from Fairfax, Arlington and Prince William, and Fairfax, Arlington and Alexandria.
• The Fairfax BOS banned the use of plastic yard waste bags after a determined advocacy campaign by FACS that included 142 emails, meetings and public testimony.
  Fairfax County BOS voted to enact the 5-cent tax on single-use plastic bag after a FACS campaign generated 330 emails, video and in-person testimony. Fairfax was the first county in Virginia. Arlington County followed four days later, as did the City of Arlington.
• Fairfax County BOS accepted the Community-wide Climate and Energy Action Plan after years of advocacy by FACS.
• FACS’ No More Diesel Buses action alert generated 334 emails to supervisors. The BOS set a goal of running a non-carbon emitting transit fleet by 2035.
• Participated in the Joint Environmental Task Force (JET) that recommended that recommended net zero goals, zero waste, green workforce development, expanded recycling, and and all electric vehicle fleets.

The following is a list of Fairfax to Zero initiatives that were approved in the 2020 budget of the Board of Supervisors. FACS has been working hard to advocate for these initiatives and are proud and excited to see this follow through:

• An increase in the budget for the Environmental Improvement Program
• Funding for LED Streetlight Conversion
• Funding for EV charging station infrastructure
• Fairfax county’s CFO Joe Mondoro, presented his recommendation for an Office of Energy and Environment, with additional staffing, bringing the total number of staff to seven (up from 3!)
• There will be an amendment to the Capital Improvement Plan, which will include Chantilly High School, Thomas Jefferson High School and Mason Crest Elementary as three specific sites for solar projects in 2019!
• The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors also approved the Fairfax Green Initiatives Board Matter, which lays out a comprehensive series of actions and follow up the county should take related to climate change – and refers to FACS among several of our partner local environmental partner organizations.
• The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance to authorize Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy on March 19, 2019. This action will provide critical financing to supercharge the inclusion of energy efficiency and renewable energy measures in eligible buildings, including houses of worship, thereby supporting the county’s goals to repurpose and revitalize underutilized buildings.

• In February, FACS organized over 60 people in Fairfax County to call for clean energy at the Fairfax County Board of Supervisor’s meeting. The group dressed in red and called on the creation of a Fairfax County climate and energy office to help residents and businesses go green.
• FACS reorganized its advocacy and outreach to elected leaders in Fairfax County by forming advocacy teams in each Fairfax County Board of Supervisor’s District / School Board Member’s District, enabling FACS to more effectively and consistently communicate the faith communities’ concern for our shared environment and climate change.
• Nearly 200 people attended FACS' "Dialogue on Virginia’s Energy Future" with then Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Ralph Northam. FACS also held a webinar with Generra Peck, then-Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Ed Gillespie’s Policy Director.
• The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, urged by FACS, publicly committed to tackling climate change. Fairfax County joined the National Mayors Climate Action Agenda in June, committing to cutting countywide greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution consistent with the Paris Climate Accords - the first county to join more than 300 majors and governors to make this commitment. The Board of Supervisors also adopted its 10-year Environmental Vision, including a section on climate change for the first time.
• Online dashboards now show publicly the energy use of every County and school building.

• An Earth Day event draws 120 people. Sharon Bulova, Chair of Fairfax County Supervisors, is one of the speakers. A successful global music concert emphasizes that climate change is a global issue.
• Supported by enthusiastic public interest, the Community Council doubles in size from the previous year.
• Congregations work to become more sustainable through actions including building community gardens, exploring solar, and holding climate change education events.

• A small group of passionate people of faith gathers in a church basement in Oakton to reflect on a faithful response to the climate crisis. Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions is born of their commitment to change.