Energy Landscape of Virginia Series with Joe Lerch
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Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 23 | October 30, 2025
Using Wood Byproducts to Make Sustainable Energy
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 find out more about topics covered in this episode
- Wood Supply Chain (Forest Resources Association)
- Virginia Forest Carbon Report (Forest Resources Association)
- Virginia Forestry Association and Virginia Forestry Foundation
- CAAFI – Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative | Sustainable Aviation Fuel
- Wisconsin Forestry Revitalization Act – $210 million (tax credits and bonds) to supplement $1.5 billion private investment in plant to make jet fuel from wood biomass
- Agricultural Technology Innovation (ATIP) Foundation
- ATIP – Advancing the Bioeconomy in SW Virginia (webinar slides)
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Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 22 | October 23, 2025
Logging and Biomass Energy Production
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 followed up with a tour of the facility.
Where to find out more about topics covered in this episode.
- NOVEC Halifax County Biomass Electric Generating Facility
- L P Dugger Logging, L.L.C
- Forest Sustainability Fund for Local Government: Virginia Department of Forestry
- Photo 1 and Photo 2
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Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 21 | September 22, 2025
Managing Virginia’s Forest with Biomass Energy Production
Energy Landscape of Virginia Episode 21 | The Intersection of Forest Management with Biomass Energy. 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 covered in this episode
- Report of the Biomass Advisory Panel – December 30, 2024 (Virginia Department of Forestry)
- Hardwood Initiative: Virginia Department of Forestry
- White Oak Initiative – Ensuring Regeneration of White Oak
- Pictures of Tree Species
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Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 20 | August 22, 2025
The Convergence of Farming with Solar: What is Agrivoltaics?
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 episode.
- 4 The Soil – initiative of the Virginia Soil Health Coalition and Virginia Cooperative Extension to raise awareness of soil as a critical natural resource.
- Virginia Tech study sheds light on solar farm impacts to property values | Virginia Tech News | Virginia Tech
- Impact of large-scale solar on property values in the United States: Diverse effects and causal mechanisms
- Utility-Scale Solar in Virginia – Virginia Cooperative Extension Webinars
- Solar Farms – Managing Soil & Water Impacts – Soil and Landscape Rehabilitation
- “RE-EVALUATING THE LAND USE IMPACTS OF UTILITY-SCALE SOLAR ENERGY DEVEL” by Damian Pitt, Aaron R. Berryhill et al.
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Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 19 | June 18, 2025
Balancing Demand and Supply in the Regional Electric Grid – Discussion with PJM Interconnection
Energy Landscape of Virginia 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 impacts on reliability and pricing in the bulk energy market.
Where to find out more about topics covered in this episode.
- PJM Website – Homepage
- Effective Load Carrying Capability (ELCC) Class Ratings by generation type – 2026/2027 Base Residual Auction
- Asim Haque (PJM) Presentation to the Commission on Electric Utility Commission (CEUR) – May 22, 2025 (presentation starts at 1:25:31)
- Asim Haque Slide Presentation
- VACo 2025 Department of Energy Webinar – Demand Response Opportunities for Counties
- Virginia narrowly avoided power cuts when 60 data centers dropped off the grid at once – DCD
- Jason Stanek, Executive Director State Government Policy – PJM, stanek@pjm.com
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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
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
- Maryland Housing Expansion and Affordability Act of 2024
- Underdevelopment Despite Upzoning (Presentation to Virginia Housing Commission July 15, 2024 – 1:02:47 – Video Archive)
- Underdevelopment Despite Upzoning– Richard Schragger, Sarah New – Virginia Environmental Law Journal, 1 (2024)
- Maryland HB 1466 (awaiting action by the Governor) – Land Use and Real Property – Accessory Dwelling Units – Requirements and Prohibitions
- Virginia HB 2533 (effective July 1, 2025) – comprehensive plan; tiny homes; accessory dwelling units
- District of Columbia – Residential Accessory Apartment Program (RAAP)
- Virginia Building Code – Accessory Dwelling Units – 2018 USBC
- Code of Virginia – § 15.2-983. Creation of registry for short-term rental of property
- Virginia – Report on the Findings and Recommendations of the Residential Infrastructure Fund Work Group (Chapter 509, 2024)
- Economic Development Workforce Housing Incentive Pilot Program (Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission)
- Aquifer Recharge – Sustainable Water Initiative for Tomorrow (SWIFT) – Hampton Roads Sanitation District
- Anne Arundel County, Maryland – Managed Aquifer Recharge
- 15.2-2223.3. Comprehensive plan shall incorporate strategies to combat projected sea-level rise and recurrent flooding
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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
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
- Dominion Energy Nuclear Facilities
- Dominion seeking small nuclear reactor proposals • Virginia Mercury
- Appalachian Power – SMR Plan
- Commonwealth Fusion Systems to Build World’s First Commercial Fusion Power Plant in Virginia | Commonwealth Fusion Systems
- California ISO – Today’s Outlook for Supply and Renewables
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Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 15 | April 1, 2025
Harvesting Excess Heat from Data Centers for Energy – District Energy Systems
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
- District Energy Supported by Excess Heat from Data Centers – NVRC Site Visit Markham, Canada
- District Energy and the Potential for Applications in Northern Virginia – NVRC webinar/October 22, 2024
- NVRC Resilience Hub
- Data Center Proximity to Public Facilities (interactive map)
- District Energy Systems: An Analysis of Virginia Law
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Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 14 | March 19, 2025
Solar by the Numbers – Facts and Figures
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
- Virginia Energy – Solar Power Webpage
- S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) – Electricity Data
- Virginia Solar Database – University of Virginia | Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service
- Updated Utility-Scale Solar Land Use Report (2025)
- Solar and wind power curtailments are rising in California – EIA, October, 2023 online article
- Accelerated Renewable Energy Buyers – Dominion Energy Certification Process
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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
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 standards to qualify for sales tax exemption
- Capitol Contact ALERT: VACo Opposes Bill Mandating Targets for Utility-Scale Solar in Comprehensive Plans (January 29, 2025)
- Bills to Mandate Counties put State Targets for Utility-Scale Solar in Comprehensive Plans Fail (February 4, 2025)
- ACTION ITEM: Oppose Bill to Mandate Statewide Standards for Solar Facilities (February 11, 2025)
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Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 12 | December 19, 2024
“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 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
- JLARC “Data Centers in Virginia” Report
- Electric Utilities and Data Center Load Growth – Case Summary for SCC PUR-2024-00144
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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
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, 2024 meeting video
- UVA Virginia Solar Database
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Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 10 | November 6, 2024
Reclaiming the Landscape of Southwest Virginia for Energy (Continued)
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
- Data Center Ridge – Energy DELTA Lab
- Mineral Gap Data Center
- Lonesome Pine Regional Industrial Facilities Authority (RIFA)
Photos
- Future Site of Data Center Ridge
- Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center
- Mineral Gap Data Center Solar Array
- Grading of Abandoned Mine Land for Industrial Park with Data Center
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Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 9 | October 31, 2024
Reclaiming the Landscape of Southwest Virginia for Energy
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
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)
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
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)
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).
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Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 4 | September 4, 2024
Utility-Scale Solar
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)
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)
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
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.