Community Energy Plan

Climate Change Mitigation Energy Action Plan

Climate change poses a serious threat to our environment and well-being. There is clear guidance from scientists and policymakers on what we need to do: reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Action is required at all levels and local governments have a unique role to play in supporting their communities’ transition to a low carbon economy.

rainbow

The City has committed to GHG emissions reduction goals to reduce our impact on the changing climate. In 2017, City Council resolved to adopt the regional goals established by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), to reduce emissions of GHGs below 2005 levels by 20 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050. In 2020, it supported the adoption of a regional interim goal by MWCOG to achieve a 50% reduction in regional GHG emissions by 2030.

City staff are working with expert consultants and the community to develop an action plan to achieve these goals. The latest draft is available here.

Comments

Your suggestions, comments and input are welcome. Please send them to environment@fallschurchva.gov.

Proposed Timeline

The proposed timeline for plan development below was presented to the Planning Commission on December 1, 2021. The agreement with COG, which was to have been signed in November 2021, was signed in May 2022, putting the project 6 months behind schedule.

Date Groups Event/Activity
July to Oct. 2021 Environmental Sustainability staff, Environmental Sustainability Council, ESC Energy Transition Subcommittee Prepare and review draft
Oct. 12, 2021 City Council Work Session
Nov. 1, 2021 City Staff Leadership Team meeting
Dec. 1, 2021 Planning Commission Planning Commission meeting
Nov. to Dec. 2021 Scope of Work definition and Memorandum of Understanding for Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Task Order consultant contract COG and City staff discussions & negotiations
Jan. 2022 Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, Environmental Sustainability staff, consultants Data & action item analysis; redraft
Feb. to March 2022 Staff review Leadership Team meeting & follow-ups
April to May 2022 Review by public, City boards & commissions (including Planning Commission), and City Council Town Hall meetings, Board and Commission meetings, Planning Commission work session, City Council work session
June 2022 City Council, Planning Commission action City Council and Planning Commission meetings
July to Dec. 2022 Government Operations Energy Plan COG, City and schools staff, consultants prepare plan