Dave Henery Wrote:
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> Jean Wright Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Fairfax County should lead on issues related to
> > climate change
> >
>
http://www.fairfaxtimes.com/article/20140220/OPINI
>
> >
> ON/140229957/1065/fairfax-county-should-lead-on-is
>
> >
> sues-related-to-climate-change&template=fairfaxTim
>
> > es
> >
> > Climate change is here and action in finding
> > solutions is needed now. In response to climate
> > crisis, the Fairfax Alliance for Climate
> Solutions
> > is organizing, along with other faith groups,
> to
> > promote climate-change solutions. We are a
> growing
> > faith alliance that views finding climate
> > solutions to be a moral, spiritual
> responsibility
> > to future generations.
> >
> > There are many areas in which Fairfax County
> > leads; however, when it comes to climate change
> > solutions that is not yet so. Fairfax County
> has
> > the resources and know-how to be a leader in
> > climate change solutions; the Faith Alliance
> wants
> > that to happen. The county Board of Supervisors
> > can take steps now that will save taxpayers
> money,
> > make energy use more efficient while enhancing
> the
> > quality of life and economy for all County
> > residents.
> >
> > Like many groups within the county, including
> the
> > Chamber of Commerce, the Faith Alliance
> supports
> > the county supervisors’ encouragement of
> public,
> > private and community projects which
> demonstrate
> > use of local alternative, renewable energy.
> Thus
> > we support rapid approval and permitting for
> the
> > Lorton Green Energy Triangle. By its location
> just
> > outside the nation’s capital, LGET would be
> the
> > first of its kind in the U.S. using a mix of
> > renewable energy — solar, geothermal, wind
> and
> > recovered methane gas — to provide for county
> > facilities energy needs. It would be a
> showplace
> > for innovation. Reconstituting Chairman
> Bulova’s
> > Private Sector Energy Taskforce could mobilize
> the
> > creativity of the private sector in developing
> > such innovative, profitable solutions such as
> > LGET. We support approval of EnviroSolutions
> > Inc.’s application now before the
> supervisors.
> >
> > The Faith Alliance also calls upon the county
> > Board of Supervisors to commit to increase
> energy
> > efficiency in county-owned buildings by 25
> percent
> > over the next three years and to lead by
> publicly
> > reporting the energy consumption of all
> > county-owned buildings by the end of 2014. This
> > could include a challenge to commercial and
> > private homeowners to reduce their carbon
> > footprint as well.
> >
> > As Fairfax County doesn’t yet have an
> integrated
> > environmental management program, Faith
> Alliance
> > supports establishment of a centralized
> > environment and climate office with the
> authority
> > to coordinate the actions of individual County
> > agencies. This includes promoting business and
> > citizen engagement to protect the environment,
> > promote innovative solutions to climate change,
> > and energy efficiency and energy conservation.
> > Doing so will save taxpayer money.
> >
> > The Faith Alliance calls for greater energy
> > efficiency in commercial buildings via LEED
> > certifications and support LEED certification as
> a
> > requirement rather than something to “strive
> > for.” A late evening drive along Interstate
> 66,
> > the Springfield Interchange or the Dulles Toll
> > Road shows bright illumination from unoccupied
> > office buildings and parking structures. We
> > recommend, for new construction, the county
> > develop a proffer system to encourage public
> > energy tracking and benchmarking.
> >
> > Fairfax County has the resources and know-how
> to
> > be a leader in climate change solutions.
> Let’s
> > begin with steps that save taxpayer money by
> > focusing on energy efficiency and conservation.
> > Let’s approve the Lorton Green Energy
> Triangle
> > proposal. Such actions will aid in furthering
> and
> > supporting climate solutions as well as Fairfax
> > County economic growth.
> >
> > Jean Wright, Oakton
> >
> > The writer is with the Faith Alliance for
> Climate
> > Solutions.
>
>
> You are 100% right Jean. Here in Fairfax county we
> need to find a way to impose a tax penalty on any
> resident who does not make certain energy
> efficient upgrades to their homes we also need to
> ramp up property taxes on vehicles that get less
> than 30 miles per gallon.
Dave & Jean, I COMPLETELY AGREE with you on this. We should push legistlation to fine any polluter, energy waster, or anyone who doesn't stop to help a pedestrian in need. I'm thinking a $5,000 fine per violation. What do you think? God, I ashamed to call myself a Northern Virginian these days.
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