VACo County Pulse Podcast

Guests Share the Legislative Pulse of Virginia Counties

Guests share the legislative pulse of Virginia Counties with Host Dean Lynch. Our latest episodes are below. Thank you for listening to the County Pulse Podcast.

Energy Landscape of Virginia Series with Joe Lerch

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Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 18 | June 11, 2025

State and Local Housing Policy – Comparison of Maryland and Virginia with MACo Conduit Street Podcast

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VACo County Pulse | Bonus Housing Episode – 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 involving county land use, and the role that local governments play in addressing energy and housing needs.

Where to find out more about topics covered in this episode

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Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 17 | June 6, 2025

State Energy Policy – Comparison of Maryland and Virginia with MACo Conduit Street Podcast

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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.

Where to find out more about topics covered in this episode

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Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 16 | April 17, 2025

Nuclear Power, Small Modular Reactors, and Fusion

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Energy Landscape of Virginia Episode 16 | 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 temporarily to refuel approximately every 18 months. In this episode, we sat down with Erich Fritz, manager of business development, and Marc Hofmann, manager of nuclear emergency preparedness and licensing with Dominion to learn more about their existing nuclear fleet, their plans for developing small modular reactors, as well as their partnership with Commonwealth Fusion Systems to assist in building Virginia’s first commercially operating nuclear fusion reactor.
 
Where to find out more about topics covered in this episode.

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Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 15 | April 1, 2025

Harvesting Excess Heat from Data Centers for Energy – District Energy Systems

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Energy Landscape of Virginia Episode 15 | 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 in 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 Executive Director Bob Lazaro,  and Senior Regional Planner Dale Medearis with Northern Virginia Regional Commission, about their longstanding work on promoting the use of District Energy Systems as part of an overall energy savings and efficiency strategy for the region. We’ll learn how leaders in the data center industry are making this happen, and what local governments can do to facilitate the use of excess heat from their operations.

Where to find out more about topics covered in this episode

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Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 14 | March 19, 2025

Solar by the Numbers – Facts and Figures

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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 out more about topics covered in this episode

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Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 13 | February 13, 2025

Virginia General Assembly Update – Legislation on Data Centers and Utility-Scale Solar

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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

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Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 12 | December 19, 2024

“Data Centers in Virginia” JLARC Report – Interview with Mark Gribbin

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“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 continued growth of the industry. We also discuss the report’s legislative recommendations and policy options, some of which include expressly authorizing local governments to address issues related to water usage and noise.

RESOURCES

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Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 11 | December 6, 2024

Legislative Outlook Update – Proposals to Preempt County Authority on Siting of Solar Facilities

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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

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Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 10 | November 6, 2024

Reclaiming the Landscape of Southwest Virginia for Energy (Continued)

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Part 2. Reclaiming the Landscape of Southwest Virginia for Energy. 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

Photos

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Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 9 |  October 31, 2024

Reclaiming the Landscape of Southwest Virginia for Energy 

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Part 1. 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:

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Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 8 | October 11, 2024

DEQ Solar Permit-By-Rule Regulations – HB 206

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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 Environmental Quality (DEQ), we learn the details of the draft regulations, focusing on important aspects that counties will want to know, opportunities to comment on the draft, and next steps in the process before they become effective.

RESOURCES

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Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 7 | September 20, 2024

Data Centers and Utility-Scale Solar – Mecklenburg County (Continued)

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

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Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 6, October 11, 2024

Data Centers and Utility-Scale Solar – Mecklenburg County

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Part 1. Mecklenburg Experience with County Administrator Alex Gottschalk. 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.

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Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 5 | September 20, 2024

Utility-Scale Solar (Continued)

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Part 2. 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 the situation through enforcement, education, and incentives. Counties are part of solving this problem and we’ll learn the role they can play in avoiding and mitigating impacts to soils and waterways.

Additional Resources

Mike Rolband Slides (specifically for the podcast).

Virginia Tech White Pater – Soil-Site Management Protocols & Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Utility Scale Solar Site (USS) Development and Management in Virginia

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Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 4 | September 4, 2024

Utility-Scale Solar 

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Part 1. 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.

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Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 3 | August 14, 2024

Data Centers (Continued)

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Part 3. 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.

Additional Resources

Loudoun County Specific Design Standards for Data Centers – see page 55

Loudoun County Project Plan for Data Center Standards and Locations

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Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 2 | August 14, 2024

Data Centers (Continued)

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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.

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Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 1 | July 26, 2024

Data Centers

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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) programs are driving demand for more computing power.

Uplifting Our Children Through Education Series with Jeremy R. Bennett

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Uplifting Our Children Through Education | Episode 1 | May 22, 2025

A Conversation with VACo Executive Director Dean Lynch

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Uplifting Our Children Through Education Episode 1 | A Conversation with Dean Lynch. In this inaugural episode of the VACo County Pulse Podcast, Uplifting Our Children Through Education, host Jeremy Bennett sits down with VACo Executive Director Dean Lynch to discuss actions taken by the Governor and General Assembly during the 2025 legislative session.  This includes a landmark achievement for Virginia’s counties: the functional elimination of the cap on K-12 support positions. This long-sought policy change, finalized in the General Assembly’s 2025 budget and supported by Governor Youngkin’s May 2 actions, restores $222.9 million in FY 2026 to local governments—funding that will now align with prevailing local staffing practices. The move marks the culmination of over 15 years of advocacy by VACo and its partners, addressing a funding gap that once exceeded $400 million and bringing state support for education staffing back to pre-Great Recession levels.

Virginia Association of Counties

Bennett and Lynch also explore other critical wins in the 2025 budget, including $53 million in new special education funding and $360 million in school construction grants. These investments reflect VACo’s broader commitment to equitable, well-resourced public education across the Commonwealth. Listeners will gain insight into how these budgetary victories were achieved, the collaborative efforts behind them, and what they mean for the future of Virginia’s counties and their schools.

VACo County Pulse Legislative Series

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General Assembly Legislative Briefs 2 | January 24, 2020 | Episode 28

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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 1 | January 10, 2020 | Episode 27

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VACo’s 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 | December 30, 2019 | Episode 26

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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/county-connections/governor-presents-biennium-budget-proposals/.

Funding the Chesapeake Bay Cleanup and an Update on Utility-Scale Solar | December 12, 2019 | Episode 25

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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 | December 11, 2019 | Episode 24

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Evan Feinman, Chief Broadband Advisor for Governor Ralph Northam and Executive Director of the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission, and Courtney Dozier, Chief Deputy at Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development and Deputy Broadband Advisor, join VACo’s Jeremy Bennett to discuss broadband access and expansion through the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI) and other means of support.

The Future of Work | October 15, 2019 | Episode 23

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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 | September 25, 2019 | Episode 22

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Welcome to the County Pulse! 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 | August 22, 2019 | Episode 21

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Welcome to the County Pulse! Carlos Hopkins, Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs and a member of the Governor’s Cabinet, and Ruby Brabo, at-large Supervisor for King George County, join VACo’s Jeremy Bennett to discuss partnerships, challenges, and opportunities between county and state government addressing the needs of Virginia’s veteran population, collaboration with U.S Military installations in the Commonwealth, and the role of counties in this effort.

Another Option | July 23, 2019 | Episode 20

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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 | June 25, 2019 | Episode 19

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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.

A Conversation about Economic Trends with Jim Regimbal | June 19, 2019 | Episode 18

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Katie Boyle talks with Jim Regimbal of Fiscal Analytics, Ltd., about key components of the budget adopted in 2019 and major economic factors shaping the next biennium budget.

Commonwealth Conversations – Senator Emmett Hanger | June 4, 2019 | Episode 17

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VACo Executive Director Dean Lynch talks with Senate Finance Co-Chairman Emmett Hanger about key policy issues of interest to local governments, including transportation, broadband, and strengthening the state-local partnership.

Communication and Community – A View from Stafford County on Best Budgeting Practices for K-12 Education | May 30, 2019 | Episode 16

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Meg Bohmke of the Stafford County Board of Supervisors and VACo Executive Committee and Superintendent of Stafford County Public Schools Dr. Scott Kizner join VACo’s Jeremy Bennett to discuss the K-12 education budget process and collaboration between school divisions and boards of supervisors. This episode is sponsored by VACORP – the premier group self-insurance pool providing comprehensive coverage and risk management services to Virginia public entities.

An Ounce of Prevention – Making a Case for Proactive Land Use Planning | May 13, 2019 | Episode 15

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Attorney Sharon Pandak of Greehan Taves & Pandak and CEO Darren Coffey of the Berkley Group join VACo’s Joe Lerch to discuss the benefit of having a proactive land use plan. Counties routinely budget dollars for legal expenses but rarely for long-range planning expenses.

Loudoun County Preps for the 2020 Census | April 10, 2019 | Episode 14

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Host Joe Lerch speaks with Gwen Kennedy, Loudoun County’s Legislative Liaison, about what the Northern Virginia locality is doing to prepare for the 2020 Census approaches. This episode is sponsored by Enterprise Fleet Management – the No. 1 leasing solution for County fleets.

Link to ROAM Tool
Localities can use this tool to see where hard-to-survey areas have been in the past.

Preparing for the 2020 Census | March 29, 2019 | Episode 13

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Host Katie Boyle talks with Margaret Nimmo Holland, Executive Director of Voices for Virginia’s Children, about the upcoming 2020 Census and efforts to ensure a successful count in Virginia. This episode is sponsored by Avaya — a leading provider of next-generation communications solutions for businesses and government entities worldwide.

Margaret Nimmo Holland’s Column in the Richmond Times-Dispatch | Counting everyone is crucial: Why the 2020 Census matters to Virginia | March 30, 2019

2019 General Assembly Edition 5 | February 22, 2019 | Episode 12

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In this episode, VACo Lobbyists Joe Lerch and Katie Boyle talk about the final days of the 2019 General Assembly Session – the conference process, what’s next for the state budget, and some bills of interest to counties. This episode is sponsored by Aetna – a leading health care company that is helping public and labor employees on their path to better health.

2019 General Assembly Edition 4 | February 19, 2019 | Episode 11

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Host Chris McDonald talks with VACo General Counsel Phyllis Errico and VACo Lobbyist Jeremy Bennett about a variety of issues, including agritourism, school modernization, school safety, FOIA, COIA, and much more.

2019 General Assembly Edition 3 | February 19, 2019 | Episode 10

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VACo Lobbyists Joe Lerch and Chris McDonald talk about a variety of issues, including alcohol reform, I-81 improvements, industrial hemp, casinos, proffers and much more.

2019 General Assembly Edition 2 | February 8, 2019 | Episode 9

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VACo Lobbyists Katie Boyle and Jeremy Bennett join Joe Lerch to talk about the state budget and give updates on the 2019 General Assembly Session. This special legislative episode of the VACo County Pulse is sponsored by The Berkley Group – a full-service local government consulting firm employing public sector experts. Located throughout Virginia, The Berkley Group provides personal attention and superior service to local governments across the Commonwealth – and beyond! Visit them at www.bgllc.net.

2019 General Assembly Edition 1 | January 17, 2019 | Episode 8

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VACo Lobbyists Joe Lerch and Chris McDonald join Executive Director Dean Lynch to talk about the start of the 2019 General Assembly Session. The trio discusses issues such as solar, proffers, procurement, I-81, water quality, agriculture, and much more. This special legislative episode is sponsored by Enterprise Fleet Management – the No. 1 leasing solution for County fleets.

Transition to “Next Generation” NG9-1-1 with VITA’s Steve Marzolf | November 20, 2018 | Episode 7

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Steve Marzolf, VITA’s Integrated Services Program Director, explains the Commonwealth’s plan to assist local governments with the migration of Next Generation NG9-1-1 technology. This podcast includes important information about the timetable and state funding available for each of the 123 Public Safety Answering Points operated at the local level.

Top Issues in Behavioral Health with Dr. Hughes Melton | October 23, 2018 | Episode 6

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Dr. Hughes Melton, Commissioner of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, sat down with VACo’s Dean Lynch to discuss major issues in behavioral health, including efforts to address the addiction crisis and the effects of Medicaid expansion.

Utility-Scale Solar Energy | September 18, 2018 | Episode 5

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Utility-scale solar energy (USSE) projects are growing in size and number across the Commonwealth. Unlike a traditional electric generating facility, they are land intensive. One Megawatt (MW) of generation capacity typically requires the siting of solar panels on 8 to 12 acres of land. The result is larger projects – in the 150MW to 500 MW range – now measure in the thousands of acres and even square miles. This episode explores both the land use impacts and local revenue implications of this emerging energy production market on Virginia’s counties.

Medicaid Expansion and What it Means for County Governments | September 4, 2018 | Episode 4

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VACo Executive Director Dean Lynch interviews Dr. Jennifer Lee, Director of the Department of Medical Assistance Services, about Medicaid expansion and how her agency is working with local departments of social services, Community Services Boards, and jails on its implementation. Details about new coverage are available at www.coverva.org.

Combating the Opioid Crisis in Virginia’s Counties | June 20, 2018 | Episode 3

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County Pulse Host Dean Lynch welcomes VACo’s Angela Inglett to talk about this important issue. Inglett is author of the 1207 to the 95 Blog that provides resources, research and information for county officials on a variety of issues.

Connecting Rural Virginia to the Internet | June 11, 2018 | Episode 2

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County Pulse Host Dean Lynch speaks with VACo’s Joe Lerch and Khaki LaRiviere about broadband connectivity in rural Virginia.

The Virginia State Budget Impasse | May 24, 2018 | Episode 1

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Host Dean Lynch interviews Katie Boyle on the state budget situation.