Running more power lines in the skies
of Loudoun County is no solution

By Kwasi Fraser

Western Loudoun County, with its stunning bucolic setting, rolling hills, vineyards, open skies, and farmlands, has been a key contributor to the overall economy of Loudoun. However, the region is currently facing a significant challenge with its electrical infrastructure. The root of the problem is inadequate transmission capacity, which is leading to potential brownouts and blackouts. 

Running more power lines across our skies would compromise the beauty and charm of our community, and the electric utility is not ready to invest in underground power lines. While running peaking power plants also known as “peakers” during peak demand is one solution, it is both costly and environmentally harmful. The most impactful solution is to take heavy users off the grid by using localized on-site energy sources.

Unfortunately, the data center industry in Loudoun County, which is critical to the region’s economy, currently lacks clean energy generating capacity to sufficiently serve as a primary source of electricity during peak demand periods. 

As a result, the industry is left with its estimated 4,100 diesel generators, which are environmentally damaging and counterproductive to Loudoun County’s recently adopted energy strategy. Loudoun County’s energy strategy identifies buildings including data centers as major contributors to greenhouse house gas and establishes goals to reduce greenhouse gases. 

To run these diesel generators during peak demand events would be a significant step backwards in the reduction of greenhouse gases and getting to net zero.

Fortunately, there are other alternatives available. With the Department of Energy’s Hydrogen Shot goal of 1 kg of hydrogen being generated for $1 within 1 decade, the data center industry, the electric utility, and the local governments have an opportunity to collaborate with the federal government on advancing decarbonization and clean energy solutions for our communities. 

By using biogenic waste from farms, watershed properties, sewer plants, and the county’s landfill to generate clean hydrogen using plasma gasification, Loudoun County could become a leader in the clean energy revolution.

This proposed solution would provide clean energy from the source, which would not only benefit the community but would also be recognized globally. The UN Climate Change Conference and Conference of the Parties (COP) goals of net zero require localized solutions that do not rely on fuzzy math derivatives such as out of operating market power purchase and energy credit agreements. Loudoun County could lead the way by generating clean hydrogen locally and powering its data centers and transmission lines with it, injecting it into natural gas pipelines.

In conclusion, the proposed solution of running diesel generators during peak demand events is shortsighted and reckless. There are alternatives available that can benefit our community now and in the long term. 

By collaborating with the federal government, the data center industry, the electric utility, and the local government, we can work together to advance decarbonization and clean energy solutions for our communities. Let’s take advantage of the opportunities available to us and make Loudoun County a leader in the clean energy revolution.

Kwasi Fraser is the former Mayor of Purcellville and former member of the National League of Cities Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Committee.