Energy Matters

PEC works toward energy solutions that emphasize efficiency first, use appropriate technologies for the 21st Century and respect the scenic and historic character of the Piedmont. 

Your General Assembly Update

Your General Assembly Update

Posted on by Dan Holmes

The beginning of spring marks the end of the 2018 Virginia General Assembly session. Well, sort of. In the case of the budget, there was no resolution, which means the fate of conservation funding and the general path forward is still up in the air. To address this, the Governor has announced that a special session will convene on April 11.

One of the bigger issues taking up bandwidth this year was Medicaid expansion. The House’s budget bill included the expansion, while the Senate’s bill did not — this set up a showdown in the budget conference committee. Due to this and other differences, the conferees were unable to come to an agreement, meaning it will be some time before we know what programs will be affected.

Why True North Data is Worse than Current Zoning

Why True North Data is Worse than Current Zoning

Posted on by Marco Sanchez

Last week I wrote a post about Public Drinking Water Supply and the Loudoun Transition Area, but this time, I want to drill down into a specific development proposal that would impact water quality: the True North Data center application. This rezoning, just upstream of the Goose Creek reservoir, would place a highly impervious use in the same subwatershed as the public water intake.

True North Data – Wrong Direction for Loudoun

True North Data – Wrong Direction for Loudoun

Posted on by Marco Sanchez

True North Data is being proposed on an environmentally sensitive site in Loudoun’s Transition Policy Area. At the same time, the Board of Supervisors is asking citizens what they would like for that area’s future as part of a Comprehensive Plan review…. Read more in this email alert from PEC field representative Gem Bingol. 

More than $1 Million Worth of Solar Installed

More than $1 Million Worth of Solar Installed

Posted on by Bri West

The benefits of solar power are multi- fold: it provides peak power close to the demand, energy security, cost savings, local employment opportunities and emission reductions. These benefits are why, for the last three years, we’ve partnered on a Solarize Piedmont campaign with friends at the Local Energy Alliance Program and the Northern Virginia Regional Commission.

Now that the 2017 Solarize Piedmont campaign has come to a close (it ran from mid-March through April), we wanted to share the results from these past three years: — Signed Contracts: 41– Dollar Value of Systems: $1,260,005 — Installed Capacity: 395 kW — Locations: Albemarle, Charlottesville, Culpeper, Fauquier, Greene, Loudoun, Orange & Rappahannock…

Hearing Examiner Issues Report on Remington-Gordonsville Line

Hearing Examiner Issues Report on Remington-Gordonsville Line

Posted on by Bri West

The State Corporation Commission Hearing Examiner has released her report on Dominion’s proposed Remington-Gordonsville 230-kV transmission line upgrade. In it, it states:

“In response to public concern and the testimony of the Commission Staff (“Staff’), the Company evaluated the potential use of shorter H-frame structures with an average height of 85 feet (“Shorter Structure Option”) where feasible along portions of the route. The Shorter Structure Option would require expansion of the right-of-way to 140 feet to accommodate the shorter structures. The Company concluded that it is technically feasible and may be reasonable to install the Shorter Structure Option for portions of the right-of-way where there are not constraints subject to four conditions. The Shorter Structure Option is feasible for 24.1 miles of the route.

11/20/15: Update on Warrenton-Wheeler Transmission Line Case

Posted on by Marco Sanchez

For those of you following the Warrenton-Wheeler transmission line, we have some good news. The Hearing Examiner has recommend the “C” route, which was Dominion’s (and our) preferred route, and the route that required the smallest amount of new right-of-way.

The hearing examiner turned down the SCC staff route recommendation, known as “Option A” which would have required a line straight across undeveloped parts of Fauquier County.

Great quote: “This attempt fails because its witness makes assertions unsupported by knowledge or analysis”.

We’ve posted the Examiner’s full report – Part I and Part II.