Supervisors sign off on Environmental Commission climate and energy plan

By Laura Longley

It’s a new day for action on climate change and cleaner energy in the country and in Loudoun County.

Two weeks before Congress approved the most ambitious investment in climate and energy in American history—$369 billion over 10 years—Loudoun’s Board of Supervisors approved the County’s own ambitious work plan for climate and energy 

On July 27, the 17-member Environmental Commission formed by the County in late 2020, presented its first annual report to the Board. The report lays out a comprehensive plan to put energy sustainability, natural resources, environmental justice, government leadership, and public engagement at the forefront of Loudoun’s efforts.

With Piedmont Environmental Council’s Gem Bingol at the helm, the Commission’s membership includes 15 subject matter experts, nonprofit leaders, utilities executives, and data center officials, all of whom are serving as voting members with four-year terms. One representative from Loudoun Water and one from Loudoun County Public Schools are non-voting members.

“We are directed to identify issues and make recommendations to protect, preserve, conserve, and enhance the environment and advance environmental justice,” Bingol said as she began the presentation to the Board. Recapping the Supervisors’ original charge to the Commission, she reminded them that “we are also expected to recommend action on existing comprehensive plan policies and your strategic plan and to suggest new initiatives. 

“Among other duties, we are charged with preparing a work plan, holding a public forum, engaging with the public on issues of environmental concern, and conducting environmental excellence awards.” The group also provided input on the first draft of the zoning ordinance rewrite.

Bingol went on describe the challenges the Commission, Board, Loudoun industries, businesses, the agricultural sector, and the citizenry at large must address. 

“The natural systems that support human life are under threat. Excessive greenhouse gas emissions are triggering changes in weather patterns. Summers are getting hotter. Data compiled by a nonprofit, Climate Central, shows that in the last five years in Virginia, it’s been one and a half degrees hotter than the 30 years between 1970 and 2000. 

“Habitats that support the web of life are being leveled by development and overrun by invasive, non-native species, undermining the critical relationships between plants and animals. Pesticides are poisoning our air and water and killing or maiming vast numbers of unintended targets … These are issues we cannot afford to ignore or wish away.

“We,” Bingol made clear, “is not the Commission, Board, County staff, or members of conservation groups. It is everyone who lives in, visits, and cares for Loudoun and its future.

“The critical nature of public engagement to accomplish our mission has been a hot topic for us,” she added “Without the public, we know we’ll fall short.”

To ensure the greatest public participation possible, the Commission proposed that the Board elevate its ad hoc public engagement committee to a standing committee—the Joint Standing Committee on Public Engagement— equivalent to the Sustainable Energy Committee and the Natural Resources Committee.

It was a smart and timely move 

In a resolution prepared by the Piedmont Environment Council, the Piedmont chapter of the Native Plant Society, and the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy, the organizations pressed the County—home of Data Center Alley— to set bolder goals for net-zero emissions and a carbon-free power grid.

According to Virginia League of Conservation Voters Deputy Director Lee Francis, “Loudoun, one of the state’s fastest growing and most energy intensive counties, has an especially large role to play in cutting pollution, protecting green spaces, and ensuring a clean energy future.” 

The Commission’s primary areas of work and its 17 initiatives addressed many of the nonprofits’ concerns.

Five areas of focus are at the core of the Environmental Commission’s overall plan: 

• Organized under the plan’s five areas are 17 specific initiatives, such as the establishment of green banks, which are like regular banks except they have more access to public funding. 
• The Supervisors found other initiatives equally compelling:
  • Improving the County landfill’s methods for managing methane gas
  • Setting higher insulation standards for homes, especially for attainable housing
  • Electrifying the County fleet
  • Educating County employees on best practices for limiting energy consumption (e.g., turning off the lights when you leave the room.)
  • Following the lead of Loudoun County Public Schools by installing solar panels on County buildings and encouraging data centers and owners of other large structures to add solar panels to meet their energy needs

The Commission members, who teamed up with Marc Aveni and Ernie Brown of the County’s General Services Department, set some key dates for 2023. The Environmental Excellence awards and the public forum will take place next spring. 

The Commission will come back to the Board of Supervisors midsummer with its second annual report. Meanwhile, the team will return this fall to report on their progress on the energy programs.

The last issue raised in the July 27 meeting was, not surprisingly, funding. Members and staff believe the costs for the current work can be folded into the existing FY23 budget. Going forward, however, as projects get underway, Supervisors will have to determine how to incorporate costs in the County budget and obtain grant funding.

“All of these ideas are wonderful,” said Board Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large). “If we were flush in money … we could do this tomorrow.” But she pointed out, “the Supervisors are looking ahead to a tough budget year. 

“I do think that there’s a lot we could do even in the short term,” she went on. “I think Building and Development will be a department we need to talk to more.” 

Supervisor Mike Turner (D-Ashburn) brought up the potential for funding through the new federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. But he cautioned the Supervisors, Commission members, and County staff to stay the course on the zoning ordinance rewrite for now.

“Let’s not get wrapped up in the excitement and the enthusiasm of this kind of a summit and immediately start asking the staff to do this and do this and do this and this. I just want to make sure everybody remembers my personal top priority—which I hope is everyone else’s top priority: to get the zoning ordinance rewrite accomplished. So please keep that in mind as we go forward.”

But when that huge undertaking is wrapped up, he added, “I look forward to working with you all.”

Prior to acting on the Environment and Energy Work Plan, Randall and Vice Chair Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) requested that the Commission take measures to ensure a diverse audience when planning public outreach and engagement.

Randall moved that the Board endorse the plan; Turner seconded it. The motion passed 6-0-3 with Supervisors Tony Buffington (R-Blue Ridge), Caleb Kershner (R-Catoctin), and Matt Letourneau (R-Dulles) absent for the vote.

For more information about Loudoun’s efforts on the environment, energy, and the work of the Environmental Commission, go to Loudoun.gov/environment.