December 1st, 2025 Douglas Stewart, Great Falls Group Chair

 

On November 4, Sierra Club-endorsed candidates swept three state-wide races and the House of Delegates with historic margins. Sixty of the 65 candidates for House of Delegates endorsed by the Sierra Club won their elections. The election results were encouraging, but now the hard work begins. As we head into the 2026 General Assembly, the Sierra Club will be working across the state to advance policies that protect the state’s natural resources, accelerate the transition to renewable energy and reform our electricity system.  That means a lot of calls, emails, and meetings with our legislators to make sure they understand and support our priorities. 

YOU can help! Legislators listen to their constituents, especially when they hear from them on key issues in large numbers. Here are some key priorities Sierra Club will be looking to advance in 2026. Read full article here.

November 30, 2025 Ann Bennett, GFG Land Use Chair & State Data Center Issues Chair

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is deciding on Plan Forward, the Countywide Policy Plan Update, on December 9th. The new plan falls woefully short in delivering strong energy efficiency, renewable energy, and data center guidelines, and thereby undermines prospects to meet our climate goals. The Sierra Club is requesting a more future forward, visionary approach for the building sector to tackle affordability and carbon emissions, asking the Board to strengthen these vital aspects of the plan. Read our full comments and learn more about how you can take action here.

November 30, 2025 Pradeep Chilka,  Great Falls Group Executive Committee Member

The Sierra Club Virginia Chapter issued a forceful statement expressing extreme disappointment after the State Corporation Commission approved the controversial Dominion Energy Chesterfield Gas Plant, authorizing a costly new methane facility. The organization fiercely criticizes the SCC for relying on a supposed "reliability threat" exemption within the Virginia Clean Economy Act to permit the fossil fuel project, arguing that the decision undermines the state's climate goals. According to the Sierra Club, the approval primarily benefits utility shareholders and large tech companies requiring data center power, placing unjust financial burdens and pollution risks onto Virginia families. Consequently, the chapter urges immediate action from lawmakers to strengthen the Virginia Clean Economy Act and prioritize demonstrably cleaner and more economical energy solutions.

November 30, 2025 Natalie Pien, Great Falls Group Executive Committee Member

In the area around Ashburn in eastern Loudoun County, Dominion Energy has proposed a high voltage overhead electricity transmission line to meet the energy demand from data centers.  Dominion submitted a Certificate for Public Convenience and Need (CPCN) for the Mars – Golden 500-230 kV2 Electric Transmission project to the State Corporation Commission (SCC).  The project is proposed in highly developed and dense residential areas as well as in environmentally sensitive areas.  There are significant negative impacts to the community: decreased property value; construction challenges; industrial visuals; potential human health risks.  There are significant negative environmental impacts: loss of trees, forests, open space; stream and wetlands degradation. Read full article here.

November 30, 2025 Douglas Stewart, Great Falls Group Chair

Located in the rural Piedmont and straddling three northern Virginia counties, Paris Mountain  overlooks the  Shenandoah Valley to the west and the Crooked Run Valley to the southeast. The mountain is also part of the Appalachian Trail corridor, with the famed “Rollercoaster” segment stretching from Ashby Gap to Snickers Gap. Mountain Resort LLC  and Eastwind Hotels are proposing to build two hotel buildings with a total of forty rooms, an 88-seat restaurant, spa, and parking lots on the eastern slope of Paris Mountain, above the village of Paris and across from Sky Meadows State Park. The Sierra Club Great Falls Group has joined an alliance of local groups opposing this development proposal. Read full article here.