Environmental Sustainability Council
Regular MeetingFalls Church, VA · October 1, 2020
Minutes
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COUNCIL
ENERGY TRANSITION SUBCOMMITTEE
Thursday, October 1, 2020 7:30 – 9:00 Virtual Meeting via Microsoft Teams
CALL TO ORDER: Members: Tim Stevens (Chair), Jon Ward, Michael Trauberman, Andrew, Stacy
Noblet, Thomas Cash, Meike Van der Steen (student representative)
Staff Liaison: Kate Walker, Environmental Programs Coordinator
MWCOG Climate and Energy Action Plan – Emissions Reduction Goal and Action Plan
Tim introduced Jon Ward’s analysis of implementing in Falls Church the MWCOG recommended
actions from their 2030 Climate and Energy Action Plan. Reaching the goal of reducing the City’s
emissions by 50% (below 2005 levels) would require elimination of approximately 77,000 tons
of emissions overall. Jon looked primarily at reductions in both the stationary sector (i.e.
buildings), and the mobile sector (transportation). Jon took account in his analysis the effects
of increasing population, and implementation of the Virginia Clean Economy Act. Efforts such
as improving energy efficiency in buildings and adding solar energy rooftop systems, along with
conversion to electric vehicles, will help reduce emissions. But the reduction from those
actions is not enough to reach the 50% goal. So Jon estimated what it would cost to purchase
renewable energy credits in sufficient quantity to make up the difference needed to get to the
50% reduction goal.
The committee discussed the need to respond to inquiries from Council Member Litkenhous
and Council Member Hardi. Tim agreed to draft a response memo, and that it should include
statements that local jurisdictions need assistance from state and federal policies and actions to
reduce emissions. Local jurisdictions cannot achieve aggressive emissions reduction goals by
themselves. Tim also shared that actions such as purchase of large offsite renewable energy
credits (as recently announced by Arlington County), and/or adoption of a policy called
Community Choice Aggregation, are additional actions the City could consider in the future to
reduce the City’s emissions.
Promoting EV Use in the City
Stacy Noblet reviewed information to be placed on the City’s web site regarding electric
vehicles (such as what they cost, where to charge them, etc.) This represents an initial effort,
and can easily be expanded. Committee members agreed this is an excellent start to providing
our residents easily accessible (and reliable) information about electric vehicles.
Energy Awareness Month Proclamation
Kate described a Resolution to be submitted to City Council supporting Energy Efficiency
awareness. The Committee agreed that Kate should forward the Resolution to City Council
with its support.
Agenda
Environmental Sustainability Council
Energy Transition Subcommittee
Meeting Agenda
Thursday, October 1, 2020 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Virtual Meeting: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-
join/19%3ameeting_NWI0ZGYwOTktY2UzOS00MjA4LTg5NDItMjNiNmRiOGZiOTBh%40threa
d.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2273ba5b04-4ace-4ae3-a6b2-
65cbc403418b%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%2227fc222d-adce-4816-a45e-bcf2b001d974%22%7d
NOTICE: This meeting will be held pursuant to and in compliance with the Virginia Freedom of
Information Act, Section 2.2-3708.2 and state and local legislation adopted to allow for continued
government operation during the COVID-19 declared emergency. All participating members will be
present at this meeting through electronic means. All members of the public may view this electronic
meeting via the meeting link listed above and in the City’s website calendar.
Public comments may be submitted to kwalker@fallschurchva.gov until 8:30 p.m. on Thursday,
October 1, 2020. All comments will be provided to the ESC Energy Transition Subcommittee
members and comments received by the deadline will be read during the meeting.
PLEASE NOTE: This meeting will be conducted using Microsoft Teams. Don't have the Teams
app? You can still join a Teams meeting. See the instructions attached to this meeting agenda.
Please email kwalker@fallschurchva.gov if you need assistance with installation. During the
meeting, staff will likely not be available to assist with installation.
1. Call to Order
2. Reading of Virtual Meeting Notice
3. Roll Call
4. Review of Minutes of September meeting
5. MWCOG Climate and Energy Action Plan – Emissions Reduction Goal and Action Plan
for the City (TS/RL Emails re goals; CEEPC slides; Jon Ward slides)
6. Promoting EV Use in the City
7. Energy Awareness Month Proclamation
8. Adjourn
Environmental Sustainability Council
Energy Transition Subcommittee
Staff Liaison: Kate Walker
(571) 581-9818, kwalker@fallschurchva.gov
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