VACo County Pulse Podcast

Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 19 | Balancing Demand and Supply in the Regional Electric Grid– discussion with PJM Interconnection

Episode 19 – Balancing Demand and Supply in the Regional Electric Grid – Discussion with PJM Interconnection. Joe Lerch talks with Jason Stanek, Executive Director of State Government Policy with PJM Interconnection the Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) for 13 states and the District Columbia in which Virginia’s electric utilities are members. They discuss the role PJM plays in generation and transmission of electricity and how policies and decisions at the state and local level have impa...

Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 18 | Bonus Housing Episode with MACo

State and Local Housing Policy – Comparison of Maryland and Virginia with MACo Conduit Street Podcast . Joe Lerch talks with Dominic Butchko, Director of Intergovernmental Relations with the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) to discuss housing policy and legislation with our neighbors to the North. Listeners to episode 17 of our Energy Landscape of Virginia series will recognize this as part 2 of our foray into comparing how the Virginia and Maryland legislatures tackle prominent issues in...

Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 17 | State Energy Policy – Comparison of Maryland and Virginia with MACo Conduit Street Podcast

Joe Lerch talks with Dominic Butchko, Director of Intergovernmental Relations with the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) to compare both the differences and similarities between Maryland and Virginia when it comes to energy and its intersection with county land use and local authority. With a focus on state legislative policy and action, we delve into issues of utility-scale generation, energy storage, transmission, and the growing demand for electricity from the data center industry. Wher...

Uplifting Our Children Through Education | Episode 1

Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 16 | Nuclear Power, Small Modular Reactors, and Fusion

Energy Landscape of Virginia Episode 11 | Nuclear Power, Small Modular Reactors, and Fusion In 2023 nuclear power produced approximately one-third of all power from Virginia sources while representing only 12 percent of all generation capacity in the Commonwealth. Dominion Energy operates Virginia’s four nuclear units in plants located in Louisa and Surry counties, each with a capacity of more than 900 megawatts in generation. Each unit operates continuously at capacity, only coming off-line tem...

Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 15 | Harvesting Excess Heat from Data Centers for Energy – District Energy Systems

Energy Landscape of Virginia Episode 10 | Harvesting Excess Heat from Data Centers for Energy – District Energy Systems District Energy Systems are a proven engineering solution that conveys heat between suppliers and users, between or among buildings. Excess heat generated by the multitude of data centers located Virginia provides an opportunity to supply heat to adjoining uses, thereby reducing overall energy consumption within what is known as a District Energy System. Joe Lerch talks with Ex...

Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 14 | Solar by the Numbers – Facts and Figures

Joe Lerch talks with Aaron Berryhill, Solar Program Manager with Virginia Department of Energy on the latest numbers in Virginia for solar installations. We cover a wide range of sources that inform how much utility-scale, community-scale, and rooftop solar has been installed in the Commonwealth. For information and assistance contact: Aaron Berryhill Solar Program Manager Virginia Department of Energy aaron.berryhill@energy.virginia.gov Office: 804.486.2754 / Cell: 804.839.6978 Where to find ou...

Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 13 | Virginia General Assembly Update – Legislation on Data Centers and Utility-Scale Solar

Joe Lerch and VACo Executive Director Dean Lynch provide an update on the status of legislation relating to Data Centers and Utility-Scale Solar. Where to find out more about topics covered in this episode JLARC "Data Centers in Virginia" Report HB 1601 / SB 1449 – Siting of Data Centers; Site Assessment House Budget Amendment – Extends the sunset date for sales tax exemption for data centers from 2035 to 2050 Senate Budget Amendment – Requires data center operators to meet energy efficiency sta...

Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 12 | “Data Centers in Virginia” JLARC Report – Interview with Mark Gribbin

“Data Centers in Virginia” JLARC Report – Interview with Mark Gribbin In this episode we sit down with Mark Gribbin, Chief Legislative Analyst with the Joint Legislative Audit Review Commission (JLARC). He is the project leader for JLARC’s “Data Centers in Virginia” report, which was released December 9th. We go over a summary of the report’s findings regarding the economic benefits to Virginia, as well as what challenges lay ahead in regard to meeting the escalating energy demand from the conti...

Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 11 | Legislative Outlook Update - Proposals to Preempt County Authority on Siting of Solar Facilities

Joe Lerch and VACo Executive Director Dean Lynch provide an update on solar industry lobbying efforts to preempt local authority on siting of utility-scale facilities and what VACo and its members will be doing to ensure this does not happen. Where to find out more about topics covered in this episode Commission on Electric Utility Regulation Meeting Page (see 11/26/2024 and click “Materials” for drop down menu) Proposed Legislative Outline for Facility Siting and Permitting CEUR November 26, 20...

Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 10 | Reclaiming the Landscape of Southwest Virginia for Energy (Continued)

Part 2. After learning about the opportunities for repurposing abandoned mine land for data centers in our 1st part with Will Clear and Will Payne, we visit with Mike Hatfield and Natalie Chapman from Wise County to expand on this conversation and take a tour of the future site of Data Center Ridge. Where to find out more about topics covered in this episode Data Center Ridge – Energy DELTA Lab Mineral Gap Data Center Lonesome Pine Regional Industrial Facilities Authority (RIFA) Photos Future Si...

Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 9 | Reclaiming the Landscape of Southwest Virginia for Energy

Listen in to Part 1 of a two-part episode recorded in Washington County, where we sit down with business partners Will Clear and Will Payne, who are investing in Southwest Virginia with a particular focus on reclaiming abandoned mine land to repurpose for a reboot of the energy economy of the region. Where to find out more about the topics covered in this episode: InvestSWVA Project Oasis Energy DELTA Lab...

Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 8 | DEQ Solar Permit-By-Rule Regulations – HB 206

Draft Revisions to DEQ Solar Permit-By-Rule (PBR) Regulations – HB 206 This episode reviews regulations that amend the requirements for utility-scale solar installations to receive state permits to operate. Specifically, a 2022 law – commonly referred to as HB 206 - requires that applicants must avoid, minimize or otherwise mitigate certain losses to prime farmland and forests in order to get approval. In a conversation with Jonathan Rak and Susan Tripp with the Virginia Department of Environmen...

Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 7 | Mecklenburg County (Continued)

Part 2. Alex takes us on a windshield tour of examples of both land uses, and we discuss how Mecklenburg has responded in terms of planning for how these fit within their community.

Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 6 | Mecklenburg County

Part 1. This 2-part episode was recorded on location in Mecklenburg County, which is located on the southern border with North Carolina. In Part 1, we sit down with County Administrator Alex Gottschalk to talk about the unique experience of a rural county that has seen significant growth in both data centers and utility-scale solar.

Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 5 | Utility-Scale Solar (Continued)

Utility-Scale Solar – Erosion Control and Stormwater with Mike Rolband In Part 2 of our episode on Utility-Scale Solar, Joe Lerch sits down with Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Director Mike Rolband to focus on issues related to erosion control and stormwater management. We learn about widespread and significant impacts due to developers not adhering to minimum requirements to prevent soil loss and runoff pollution. Director Rolband explains what DEQ has been doing to correct ...

Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 4 | Utility-Scale Solar

Utility-Scale Solar – Legislative Outlook with Dean Lynch In the first of a 2-part episode, Joe Lerch sits down with VACo Executive Director Dean Lynch to discuss the big picture on state energy policy related to solar and recent attempts to preempt local authority on siting of facilities. Central to this discussion is the passage in 2020 of Virginia Clean Economy Act which sets certain targets for deployment of utility-scale solar facilities....

Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 3 | Data Centers (Continued)

Listen in as Joe Lerch interviews Loudoun County Vice Chair and VACo Board Member Juli Briskman. We learn how the industry has transformed their community, what steps they’ve taken in terms of planning for its growth and impacts, and what other counties should consider when the industry comes knocking on the door.

Energy Landscape of Virginia Episode 2 | Data Centers (Continued)

Part 2. Listen in as Joe Lerch takes a tour of the Equinix facility in Loudoun County. Before hitting the floor to see where all the processing and storage takes place, Chris Kimm with Equinix guides us through the various components of the power to run the data center.

Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 1 | Data Centers

Part 1. Listen in as Joe Lerch interviews Chris Kimm, Senior Vice President of Global Customer Care and Experience at Equinix, an American multi-national corporation that builds and operates data centers. Learn about the data center business, and how they provide a seamless and instantaneous experience for commerce, industry, education, and social interactions. In so doing we touch on a range of topics including energy consumption, water use and how advances in artificial intelligence (AI) progr...

General Assembly Legislative Briefs | Episode 2 | Delegate Terry Kilgore

VACo Executive Director Dean Lynch welcomed Delegate Terry Kilgore to the County Pulse Podcast to talk about the 2020 General Assembly Session. The two Scott County natives discussed Equal Taxing Fairness, budget amendments, legislation submitted by Delegate Kilgore, opportunities in Southwest Virginia, and much more.

General Assembly Legislative Briefs | Episode 1

VACo Executive Director Dean Lynch and Lancaster County Supervisor Jason Bellows discuss the start of the 2020 General Assembly Session and issues of interest to Counties.

A First Look at the Introduced Budget

VACo’s Katie Boyle talks with economist Jim Regimbal about key elements of the Governor’s proposed budget, which was presented on December 17. VACo’s preliminary analysis of the budget is available at https://www.vaco.org/governor-presents-biennium-budget-proposals/ .

Funding the Chesapeake Bay Cleanup and an Update on Utility-Scale Solar

VACo staff Chris McDonald and Joe Lerch discuss recent announcements and developments in the arena of water quality and renewable energy.

Connecting the Commonwealth – Expanding Broadband Access in Virginia

Access to affordable broadband is an essential component of modern life. The impacts of connecting individuals and communities to the internet range from increased economic development, improved student outcomes, and a more vibrant and engaged society. Providing adequate financial assistance to counties to build the necessary telecommunications infrastructure to deploy universal affordable access to internet for all, particularly underserved and rural areas is a priority of VACo. Evan Feinman, C...

The Future of Work

VACo’s Angela Inglett speaks with Callan Dudley of Southern Landscape Group about the rising generation of workers. Callan shared how Southern Landscape Group is working with its local school system to inspire students with the employment possibilities within their communities.

K-12 Public Education | Small and Rural Schools

In this episode, Superintendent Keith Perrigan of Bristol City Public Schools and President of the Small and Rural Schools Coalition and Jason Bellows, District 3 Supervisor for Lancaster County, member of the VACo Board of Directors and VACo Region 2 Director join VACo’s Jeremy Bennett to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing K-12 education in small and rural communities.

Virginia’s Veterans – Innovative Partnerships to Serve Those Who Served Us

According to a to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Virginia’s veteran population exceeded 725,000 individuals distributed across every locality in the Commonwealth. This constitutes approximately 3.6% of the total veteran population in the United States and ranks Virginia as the 8th state with the most veterans residing within it. The skills, leadership, and experience that veterans carry often benefit the institutions and communities in which they work and reside. Ensuring that veterans hav...

Another Option

Frank Bossio (Former Culpeper County Administrator) and Sue Hansohn (Member of the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors) jump on the podcast to chat with Angela Inglett about workforce development and to explain why we should encourage young people to explore options apart from the college track. We talk about new methods of delivering career training and the importance of recognizing the dignity of work in all its forms.

A Breath of Fresh Air: Life in Rural Virginia

In this episode, we meet the recently appointed Chair of the VACo Rural Caucus: Grayson County Administrator Bill Shepley. Bill talks to host Angela Inglett about his love for Rural Virginia, his vision for the Caucus, and his excitement about the opportunities facing rural communities.