VACo County Pulse Podcast

Energy Landscape of Virginia Episode 26 | Dark Sky Parks and Reducing Light Pollution  We visit two dark sky certified parks to learn how these places take advantage of a neglected and diminishing natural resource, to provide recreational and educational opportunities to the public. We also explore how communities can reduce light pollution to preserve the night sky and improve the health of natur...

Energy Landscape of Virginia Episode 25 | Purchasing electricity for local governments from Dominion Energy  In a conversation with Stephen Burr, Energy Manager for Arlington County, and John Lord, Energy Management Coordinator for Fairfax County Public Schools, we learn about the special contractual relationship localities have with Dominion Energy to purchase electricity through the Virginia Ene...

Energy Landscape of Virginia Episode 24 | Update on Energy Legislation from 2026 Virginia Legislative Session  In a conversation with VACo Deputy Director Katie Boyle, we learn about the proposal to end Virginia’s sales tax exemption on data center equipment, and how that has led to an impasse on negotiating the next two-year state budget slated to begin July 1st. We learn about this tax incentive...

Virginia’s K-12 Funding Formula: What the JLARC Report Means for Counties — and What Comes Next   In the latest episode of VACo’s Uplifting Our Children Through Education podcast series, host Jeremy R. Bennett is joined by Justin Brown, Associate Director of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC), and Mark Gribbin, Chief Legislative Analyst (JLARC) and project leader for JLARC’s...

Championing K-12: Advocacy & Collaboration Between Boards of Supervisors and School Boards In this episode of Uplifting Our Children Through Education , host Jeremy Bennett sits down with J.T. Kessler , a classroom teacher and longtime advocate for public education, to explore the essential partnerships that shape K-12 outcomes across Virginia. Drawing on his hands-on experience in both North...

In this episode of the Uplifting Our Children Through Education series, host Jeremy R. Bennett sits down with three local leaders from Prince Edward County to explore the powerful intersection of history, policy and infrastructure in public education. Joining Jeremy are: Douglas W. Stanley, County Administrator for Prince Edward County; Cainain Townsend, Executive Director of the Robert Russa Moto...

Energy Landscape of Virginia Episode 23 | Using Wood Byproducts to Make Sustainable Energy. In a conversation with Terry Lasher, Executive Director for the Virginia Forestry Association, we learn how Virginia’s forest economy contributes to sustainable energy production. We also discuss the potential for utilizing forestry and agriculture waste to manufacture sustainable aviation fuel. Where to fi...

Energy Landscape of Virginia Episode 22 | Logging and Biomass Energy Production. Joe Lerch visits the Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC) Halifax County Biomass plant to learn how biomass energy production contributes to the health of Virginia’s forests and the environment. The episode begins with a conversation with plant manager Mike Davis and Palmer Dugger of L.P. Dugger Logging foll...

Joe Lerch and James Hutzler visit Rob Farrell, State Forester and Director of the Virginia Department of Forestry, to learn how management of Virginia’s oak and hickory forests can be combined with biomass energy production. We also take a tour of a forested plot to learn in depth how effective trees species management can produce a renewable source of energy. Where to find out more about topics c...

In this episode of the Uplifting Our Children Through Education series, Host Jeremy Bennett sits down with County Administrator Carol Steele and Deputy County Administrator Maria Calloway of Gloucester County to discuss the county’s school construction journey—from the local sales-tax referendum to planning, community engagement, and delivering modern learning spaces. Hear how Gloucester aligned v...

Energy Landscape of Virginia Episode 20 | The Convergence of Farming with Solar: What is Agrivoltaics?  Joe Lerch talks with Rachel Henley, Working Lands and State Advocacy Specialist with the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation to explore how farms and solar installations can coexist and what the term “Agrivoltaics” means within this context. Where to find out more about topics covered in this episod...

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 a...

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...

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, ener...

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 th...

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...

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 E...

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 ce...

“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,...

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...

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 Mi...

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...

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 appr...

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.