Our Mission

STATEWIDE

• Served as a co-host for the first time at the Virginia Conservation Network (VCN)’s annual Conservation Lobby Day, mobilizing over three dozen volunteers and leading meetings with 12 members of the General Assembly.
• Hosted Virginia’s largest General Assembly Watch Party in partnership with VCN, bringing together over 40 advocates to discuss renewable energy, transportation electrification, EV infrastructure, and data centers. See recap here.
• Mobilized volunteers for district meetings and town halls with over two dozen legislators, expanding engagement on Northern Virginia’s environmental priorities beyond the legislative session.
• Expanded FACS’ presence in Richmond, with staff spending extended time meeting directly with legislators about priority bills during the General Assembly session.

ADVOCACY HUBS

• FAIRFAX COUNTY: After years of dedicated FACS advocacy, Fairfax County Public Schools activated its first solar system at Olde Creek Elementary, with two more schools to follow and an estimated $11 million in taxpayer savings. More than 50 volunteers also advocated with the Board of Supervisors during the county budget process.
• LOUDOUN COUNTY: Eliminated by-right data center development, ensuring every proposed data center must receive a public hearing and Board of Supervisors approval.
• ARLINGTON COUNTY: Supported the County Board's creation of a new Climate Action Resolution in March and partnered with county leadership in outreach to help faith communities advance climate and energy goals.
• CITY OF ALEXANDRIA: Helped secure full funding for the City’s Office of Climate Action and successfully advocated for a funded, systemwide sustainability plan for Alexandria City Public Schools.
• CITY OF HARRISONBURG: Partnered with the Harrisonburg Mayor’s Office and local organizations to address home weatherization and energy-efficiency needs for low-income households and relaunched Renew Rocktown to coordinate regional climate efforts. In September, hosted a Sustainable Farm Tour at two local farms focused on land access, labor, markets, soil health, and value-added processing.

POWER OF FAITH

• Began transitioning Power of Faith resources to better serve households and individual residents facing rising energy costs.
• Hosted energy expos in partnership with CCAN, bringing together residents, contractors, nonprofits, and energy experts to share practical information on home energy improvements and electrification.
• Welcomed 6 new congregations into the Power of Faith program and supported 4 participating congregations in pursuing energy efficiency opportunities.
• Connected congregations with peer mentors to share lessons learned and best practices from completed energy projects.
• Formed a partnership with Loudoun County to expand access to energy efficiency resources and outreach efforts.

TREE OF LIFE

• In February, FACS sponsored the Third Annual Conference for Spanish-Speaking Landscape Professionals, welcoming 75 attendees to explore how native plants, healthy soils, and sustainable landscaping can strengthen climate resilience while attracting more clients.
• On Sunday, March 9th, nearly 300 community members gathered at Mount Vernon Unitarian Church to learn about the “Homegrown National Park,” a national effort to turn yards, neighborhoods, and community spaces into thriving ecosystems starting with our own yards with Entomologist Doug Tallamy, in partnership with MVUC’s Climate Action Team. See the event recap and livestream here.
• In April, FACS volunteers joined local partners to plant more than a dozen fruit trees and bushes at Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary School, helping restore tree cover, expand access to fresh fruit, and advance environmental justice in Arlington’s Green Valley neighborhood.
• Over the summer, FACS partnered with Fairfax Master Gardeners to present a free three-part webinar series on creating pollinator-friendly, low-maintenance native gardens, and turning food waste into nutrient-rich compost.

ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

• Created our very first Clergy Council with spiritual leaders who will provide guidance, hope, and comfort to our supporters and wider community.
• Hosted a senior from Episcopal High School for a four-week spring internship, providing hands-on, real-world experience with our programs and partners. You can read about their internship experience here.
• Investigated plastic bag recycling practices at seven major grocery chains and found that some consistently recycled collected bags, while others sent them to a Virginia landfill or incinerator. See the study results here.

• In October 2023, FACS was named a Phase 1 winner of the Department of Energy's Buildings UP award. FACS was selected as one of 45 winners, receiving $200,000 and launching one of our pillar programs: Power of Faith.
• After persistent engagement by our advocates, Loudoun County's 30-year Energy Strategy plan was approved by Supervisors to reduce carbon pollution by government operations, support clean energy development, and boost community-wide action.
• Alexandria City Council adopted an Energy and Climate Change Action Plan, establishing an Office of Climate Action that will guide Alexandria City’s efforts to reach 2030 and 2050 greenhouse gas reduction and resilience targets.
• FACS asked the Fairfax County School Board to expand its signature Get 2 Green program in the FY 2023-24 budget. The initiatives were approved unanimously. Fairfax County Public Schools introduced the Care to Share Toolkit to help recover and redistribute cafeteria food to students and community members facing food insecurity.
• The Fairfax Connector now offers free public bus rides for children aged 12 and under when accompanied by a paying adult and those receiving public benefits.
• Issued a candidate questionnaire and hosted a live forum for an election to fill two seats on the Arlington County Board, ensuring climate and environmental concerns are priorities for Arlington County's elected officials.
• FACS mobilized supporters to oppose Gov. Youngkin's withdrawal from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. In response, hundreds of concerned community members contacted their state legislators. Later, FACS joined the Southern Environmental Law Center and four other nonprofits to challenge the governor's unlawful decision in court.

• 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.