Founded in 1995, the Fairfax Coalition for Smarter Growth (FCSG) has promoted smart growth, transited-oriented development, traditional communities and preservation of open space in Fairfax County for the past 15 years. In June 2010, FCSG was pleased to welcome three new board members from Reston, one of the nation's first "new towns" of the 1960's. In September, 2010, FCSG established a new project devoted to sustainable development in Reston: Sustainable Reston. Building on work done under the auspices of the Reston Citizens Association from 2008-2010, the Sustainable Reston project will work with Reston citizens, organizations and civic and government leaders to ensure Reston is positioned to meet the challenges of peak oil, climate change and economic dislocation, in short, to ensure Reston's sustainability.

Back in 1995, we were all aware of environmental degradation and catastrophes; some were speaking of global warming. Very few people, certainly none in the public arena, were discussing something called "peak oil". Peak oil - the point when we have extracted half of the existing world oil reserves - poses incredible challenges for the American life style of auto-dependent suburbs. How we plan for and adapt to the coming changes is now very much on the minds of smart growth advocates.

How do we ensure the food supply in an era of rapidly rising oil prices? Will our food continue to travel thousands of miles from producer to our table or will we need more local sources of food? Where are local sources of food in an area like Northern Virginia? Will we be able to continue commuting long distances from home to job or will we need to ensure jobs are close to home? How can we revive those local businesses that sustained our traditional communities for decades (if not a couple centuries), but slowly disappeared in the age of strip malls and shopping malls accessible only by automobile? What's the economic value of locally owned businesses to a community? Is it possible for modern US suburban communities to produce some of their own energy - solar, wind, geothermal?

We hope you will check back often as we post news of upcoming events such as sustainability book clubs, movie screenings in local venues and discussion groups. We'll be looking for individuals from all walks of life who want to be engaged in grass-roots planning for a sustainable future by participating in our core working groups focused on local food/food security, energy, transportation and a vibrant local economy. We especially welcome the invaluable input of those who have worked for years in the smart growth and environmental arenas.

For more information, please contact Diane Blust, dblust@comcast.net or 703-715-1002.