[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6638912,"mediaKeyId","2567680-907a4793ae8f4028b7f2b163ecdaedf7","parentId",2567680,"title","Committee authorizes staff to issue RFP for renewable natural gas facility at Loudoun County landfill","audioSeconds",751,"startMs",2593000,"endMs",3344000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2567680-907a4793ae8f4028b7f2b163ecdaedf7&start=2593&end=3344","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2567680-907a4793ae8f4028b7f2b163ecdaedf7/thumbnail_2593000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6638912/Virginia/Committee-authorizes-staff-to-issue-RFP-for-renewable-natural-gas-facility-at-Loudoun-County-landfill","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6638912-e3157a85a5ba280ac2e1b19fbf09d8af/orig.mp4?Expires=1775211655&Signature=hf2aY8DIotJd7hEbr4Xpl-rVqManR07rEUvcobcFA69bAm~n37oFTTTkksRBB1-gyKK9VtFCn1VbaUZLBv8JMyE~Tv2N3dsUyb5uBeerI1UhajMTDoIZ9gvXlu03puf3peMKmVGLFP0kf7a5yLWMKHU0vgJaSh8PKaxyfXmUqsZxBBJQNi73gv1QoEWuNvTf7mzYLnSkqczVndQ77KxkCuPvgSiyks0j9169azgJj0wiLZrJhOyIbGo2n3dhSVzxSeoDs1X1PUvkoGgqoh5wdL8hzAhsujUiCde1KjNC2qGqXFF6z-efqPw8nwDAWIfYJIOloiDOdeuaWLvljaZDdQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Loudoun County","date","2025-03-11T00:00:00Z","article","The Finance, Government Operations and Economic Development Committee on March 11 recommended that the Board of Supervisors authorize staff to develop and issue a request for proposals (RFP) for a private vendor to build, own and operate a facility at the Loudoun County Landfill to convert captured landfill gas to renewable natural gas (RNG).

Mark Evaney, assistant director for General Services, summarized a feasibility study showing the landfill produces sufficient methane to support an RNG project and identified economic and environmental benefits, including market credits known as Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Evaney said Prince William County operates an RNG plant as a local example and that converting landfill gas to RNG would reduce the county's greenhouse-gas emissions from county facilities (the landfill is the largest county-facility source) while producing an energy product with market value.

Evaney described two implementation options: (1) procure a private vendor under a build-own-operate model so the county incurs no capital cost and negotiates a share of revenue and credits; or (2) the county builds and operates the facility, bearing capital and operating costs but retaining a larger share of revenue. He said the feasibility estimate in the study placed a potential capital cost for a county-built plant in the range of more than $20 million and projected a positive return over time. Evaney also noted the county would need a zoning special exception to site an RNG facility at the landfill.

Supervisors discussed timeline and market conditions. Supervisor Umstead asked whether changes in federal climate policy could eliminate incentives; staff said RINs and demand for RNG currently have market value and both administrations have used RINs, so the consultants believe the market is viable under an \"all-of-the-above\" energy approach. Supervisor Laturna asked about costs and returns; Evaney cited study estimates (a capital-cost estimate above $20 million and consultant projections that included environmental credit revenue as a large component of long-term value) and said staff would negotiate terms to preserve county benefit in any vendor arrangement.

Supervisor Sainz moved the recommendation that staff issue an RFP for a build-own-operate vendor to convert landfill gas to RNG; the motion was seconded and the committee voted in favor. Staff indicated they expect to issue an RFP in early fiscal year 2026, that the site will require a special exception and that a project could take several years to reach construction and operation depending on permitting and negotiation.

Votes at a glance: earlier in the meeting the committee approved its consent agenda (moved by Chair Randell, seconded by Supervisor Sainz; vote recorded 4–0–1 with Supervisor Letourneau off the dais). Later, the committee approved the landfill-RNG RFP recommendation (motion moved by Supervisor Sainz and seconded; committee vote recorded as in favor; transcript does not include a numerical tally for that motion).

Why this matters: Capturing landfill methane and converting it to RNG can reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and produce an energy product with market value; implementation choices will determine whether the county assumes capital cost and operations or secures revenue share under a vendor-built model.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Loudoun County - Finance/Government Operations and Economic Development Committee - Mar 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","After a feasibility review, the committee recommended the Board authorize staff to issue a request for proposals for a vendor to build, own and operate a facility to convert landfill gas to renewable natural gas; the committee also approved the consent agenda earlier in the meeting.","taxTitle","Loudoun County, Virginia","taxId",5640,"location","Virginia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6638917,"Assessment: Volunteer fire companies show improved controls; vendor management weakest area",830,3357000,4187000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2567680-907a4793ae8f4028b7f2b163ecdaedf7&start=3357&end=4187","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2567680-907a4793ae8f4028b7f2b163ecdaedf7/thumbnail_3357000.jpg","/articles/6638917/Virginia/Assessment-Volunteer-fire-companies-show-improved-controls-vendor-management-weakest-area","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6638917-74cd24ccc7c6b2f01f0e12025cc82b43/orig.mp4?Expires=1775211655&Signature=EKq0tJxr8mORrapc4kgtbTMjHTncF9mQ9lSttJqP4Hu~jBclfBH~mrd1r44rK24RuqzFbcJuy1OxLXxwrnxbw1krUWfdBvSsRL3518DB0Em-HWbSzRPdhXiTY45nb8VGI0-lWg5gYJcNWJgkPhhjkSxapA9nAb1MiVx2rOoqvhnA4j8GhpMbIw41OD3E~u9swxgs2lhB2zEiDXjlg7in5GawpV1gjU-FD5MUZ92Z17lvtqbn4oJiwC10XKpgNe97dEwJCuwwMimSY78G~KRc9eAz4XZACKxrHrAdiWRlMPYjFaIIWux74vO0gy05POCG7113OoZd9PYJzAOgg8AHKA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County finance staff and forensic auditors presented results of the second cohort of a multi-year internal control maturity assessment for volunteer fire and rescue companies at the March 11 meeting. The assessment, developed with Cherry Bekaert and adopted by the finance committee in 2020, evaluates five core process areas: cash receipts, expenditures, vendor management, account reconciliation and credit/debit cards.

Tiffany McCoy, forensic manager at Cherry Bekaert, described a four-phase engagement that uses interviews, walkthroughs, sampling and documentation review to score companies against the approved tool. For cohort 2, eight companies were assessed. McCoy said credit and debit card controls scored highest overall and vendor management showed the largest opportunities for improvement across the cohort.

Department of Finance and Procurement staff said cohort 1 (seven companies) showed similar distribution of results and that the overall direction has been improvement since the program began. Next steps include working with Loudoun County Fire-Rescue (LCFR) administrative staff to strengthen vendor-management policies, adding examples and training to the treasurer quarterly meetings, and preparing cohort 1 for its second assessment in FY26.

Committee members recognized the volunteer nature of the companies and thanked the volunteers and county staff for the work to build controls that balance oversight with operational capacity. Staff said most companies concurred with findings or provided clarifying comments, and that the county will provide templates and examples drawn from nonprofit literature to guide implementation.

Why this matters: Volunteer fire and rescue companies handle public funds and purchases; improved internal controls reduce financial risk and support transparency.","A county-commissioned internal control maturity assessment found credit/debit card controls strongest and vendor management the most common weakness among volunteer fire and rescue companies; cohort 2 included eight companies and the county will provide training and follow-up assessments.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6638922,"County staff urge ongoing monitoring of federal funding after preliminary review of executive orders and agency changes",413,2305000,2718000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2567680-907a4793ae8f4028b7f2b163ecdaedf7&start=2305&end=2718","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2567680-907a4793ae8f4028b7f2b163ecdaedf7/thumbnail_2305000.jpg","/articles/6638922/Virginia/County-staff-urge-ongoing-monitoring-of-federal-funding-after-preliminary-review-of-executive-orders-and-agency-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6638922-7d436623122077b5e9da8ae8136b8adf/orig.mp4?Expires=1775211655&Signature=YB9LtjDaV~uk78~kMPsvIQnOP4HocSv1t-SuW4LEE-BQwZxEJIPbQAggsruwzildcsNrH6W4kdpUf6YKu0AIdvGwiBlsDMZBglHkcXUrCRncb67NxQkbm1YETPB6qXSdIPfLrNZh1uoDk9mgdcQGE6WopvJHa~~sDtNyOR8o9A8hrlAaHl9tckbh9njbmuCYIu0q8vTjRflN0c5m7KdzNz6zgbqMRFh0a5Vv94fvzPGzC1dY8IYBqj5yPnLmFS~M7UCale2-j4U9--qM1d99PMWeAkmojHib3G5W9HMiZ1NYK3qOy0tqXDVAsxPMhJPrA6jOEZ4PUWU59tLXwIis7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County staff presented a high-level and preliminary analysis on March 11 of potential local impacts from recent federal executive orders and federal staffing changes, warning that the situation is uncertain and recommending continued monitoring and periodic reporting to the finance committee.

Staff emphasized that the analysis is preliminary. The presentation covered possible effects on the county's receipt of direct federal grants and pass-through funding the county receives via the state. Staff used Medicaid as an example of a large pass-through exposure, citing a figure of about $20 million per month in Medicaid pass-through funds as an illustrative number in the slides and discussion. Staff and supervisors stressed that the Medicaid figure was presented as an example only and that other programs (WIC, SNAP, TANF) do not have specific local monthly totals in the briefing.

The county reported it had 54 active federal grants across 20 departments in the FY25 budget, totaling about $57 million; staff noted that FY24 expenditures on federal funding were approximately $116 million, reflecting multi-year awards and carry-forward spending. Supervisors asked whether particular locally important projects (for example, the Route 50 and Loudoun County Parkway interchange) had already received federal funds and whether awarded funds risk being delayed or rescinded; staff said there have been no changes to previously awarded federal grants and offered to follow up offline with project-specific payment timing.

Staff noted developments on the continuing resolution (CR): a version passed the House the same day listing certain block grants, and staff said the CR language would still need Senate action. Staff said that if a CR carries funding through September 30 it would preserve many block grants but that appropriations and earmark timing could be affected and some awards might need to be re-submitted in a later cycle. The county's federal lobbyist was on the meeting's WebEx for questions.

Why this matters: Loudoun County receives and administers federal grant funds and pass-through payments that fund human services, housing and capital projects. Staff told the committee that the evolving federal situation creates uncertainty for budgets and service delivery and recommended continued monitoring and regular updates to the board.","County staff presented a high-level, preliminary review of potential impacts from federal executive orders and staffing changes, highlighted the continuing resolution status, and identified Medicaid and other pass-through funds as significant exposures to monitor.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6638926,"Loudoun Water outlines $1 billion capital program and three-year 7% rate increases starting Jan. 1, 2025",1177,1106000,2283000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2567680-907a4793ae8f4028b7f2b163ecdaedf7&start=1106&end=2283","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2567680-907a4793ae8f4028b7f2b163ecdaedf7/thumbnail_1106000.jpg","/articles/6638926/Virginia/Loudoun-Water-outlines-1-billion-capital-program-and-three-year-7-rate-increases-starting-Jan-1-2025","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6638926-663b0f879d4f53648f3045fd33f33ff1/orig.mp4?Expires=1775211655&Signature=E7JfGWeCmkU5pcj2cerTZts8-kTeciz9Xyf7q38370rpFcaiFgx2LoULkTAOEt-NfHLDKKlnz2K0hSKEieqbrZnMVjV18-Iadv2vkTWi7GarQvpoSUlNKjbewWjPS-GD7sWZTrU0jlzSoSXWX18MLHdx4-V1lC1Fh0ntEp8c5YoZ0i2cwkZqgeKZPAplDfJVmtRmUFpi-xrhWbXbBR1IWWxhxd-gKmbpxtCYxmjxZS4-A4nNonXnJk4ZH95mz2qwREkvtb2xJNVL4NFe57-BhboeDhF0Z7kVbgmauNfXpewWn7GvQDrPGm25TGHRp3uXTDAgAAlh7B3J-gn4PvGe0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Brian Carnes, general manager of Loudoun Water, presented the utility's 2024 annual update to the committee on March 11, reporting a clean audit opinion for 2023, a robust capital program exceeding $1 billion over the next five years and rate adjustments the utility's board approved in December.

Carnes said the utility's board adopted a cost-of-service recommendation to raise rates by 7% each year for three years, with increases effective Jan. 1, 2025, 2026 and 2027, and to raise availability charges by 7% for the same three-year period. \"Every three years we have an independent consultant conduct a cost of service and rate study ... our board approved rate increases at their December meeting of 7% each year for the next 3 years starting 01/01/2025,\" Carnes told the committee.

Major capital projects include the Broad Run (referred to in the presentation as Bridal Run) Water Reclamation Facility expansions: a recently completed phase that increased capacity from 10 million gallons per day to 15 million, followed by a proposed phase 3 to expand to 30 million gallons per day over a roughly 10- to 15-year schedule. Carnes also described the Milestone Reservoir project to convert a retired quarry into raw water storage, with first-year construction complete and online service expected in 2028.

Carnes said Loudoun Water remains competitively priced for a typical residential quarterly bill (sampled at 21,000 gallons per quarter) relative to neighboring utilities, though availability charges are on the higher side due to continued system expansion. The utility reported it served more than 6,000 students with education and outreach programs in 2024 and emphasized cybersecurity investments based on NIST guidance, including multi-factor authentication, network segmentation and penetration testing.

Supervisors raised concerns about communication and timing: Supervisor Sainz said notification letters about rate increases reached customers late and asked whether additional public outreach or hearings should have occurred earlier; Carnes and board representatives said the utility scheduled additional public hearings after receiving feedback and acknowledged lessons learned on communications. Loudoun Water staff also described coordination with county staff on projects including Broad Run Farms and two water connection feasibility studies (Peony and Waterford/Unison). When asked whether data centers drive rate increases, Loudoun Water staff said commercial users pay higher tier rates and no single customer is causing residential rate changes.

Why this matters: The utility's capital plan and board-approved rate schedule will affect utility customers, future development and county infrastructure planning. Supervisors requested clearer communication to residents and continued scrutiny of the capital plan and project phasing.","Loudoun Water officials presented their 2024 annual report, including a $1 billion capital improvement program over five years, board-approved 7% annual rate increases for 2025–2027, planned expansion of the Broad Run (Bridal Run) Water Reclamation Facility, and public outreach and cybersecurity efforts.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6638930,"Loudoun officials outline workforce response to federal layoffs, promote Small Business Summit",311,105000,416000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2567680-907a4793ae8f4028b7f2b163ecdaedf7&start=105&end=416","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2567680-907a4793ae8f4028b7f2b163ecdaedf7/thumbnail_105000.jpg","/articles/6638930/Virginia/Loudoun-officials-outline-workforce-response-to-federal-layoffs-promote-Small-Business-Summit","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6638930-4e1dca1a4294c81ad67d435a0edfc0ce/orig.mp4?Expires=1775211655&Signature=hG~qfcqvvAbzO3Y3FGDPGlU3QOEFjU823fObTARH4Tn4SCcHG9od6dAUudC88Ov1vC8vDA~3kCwjJg1gcDL6mE2G6lwXoBBc3JFLoaf2WKLxeDhanNVviXEiRRsVa808-4X2TKyHU1WfuyilV~Kr2wTvMBLE2e8KuGIYN0PGf6mMFKYWz3sdBHVaiQ27XQVcoyrVWH0PfE8ji1vgUbhYkjVocAwNx6KalbzQGHCKgvvU47fq9kmgkylfm1FjN4uZlj1lBWldy0lPyNesY9~cxgwqef8n5sif0RDXOmlfdJEJhogop1rwdz~kN5nFVXWYj6xCB4jYmIAFxe3aQhIB1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Buddy Reiser, Department of Economic Development staff, told the Finance, Government Operations and Economic Development Committee on March 11 that county economic development teams are tracking potential impacts from federal workforce reductions and expanding services to affected workers and employers.

Reiser said the county is launching the Loudoun Resilience Initiative (LRI), which the Department of Economic Development will use as a one-stop portal to connect residents impacted by federal layoffs to job openings, career coaching, upskilling and free business coaching through the Launch Loudoun program. \"We are the Loudoun Resilience Initiative or LRI, dedicated program and 1 stop portal for residents affected by federal layoffs,\" Reiser said.

The presentation also promoted the county's third annual Small Business Summit scheduled for Tuesday, May 6 at the Lodge at Hansen Park in Brambleton; registration information was provided as biz.loudoun.gov/smallbusinesssummit. Carmen Ortiz McGee, a director with the Loudoun County Economic Development Authority, said the EDA will co-sponsor the national pitch competition Distilled Intelligence 3, to be hosted in Loudoun this October, and reiterated EDA priorities including entrepreneurship and housing support.

Reiser provided county labor and workforce context: DED reported 106 business wins in February, an aggregate of about 3,850 jobs tied to those wins and approximately $7.84 billion in commercial investment. He said census estimates show 17,596 federal workers living in Loudoun and 6,671 federal jobs based in Loudoun as of third-quarter 2024. Reiser also described ongoing outreach to employers, Northern Virginia Community College and labor groups to identify upskilling and placement opportunities, and said the county has begun producing a one-page summary about the LRI for supervisors and the public.

Supervisors questioned whether the county is coordinating with labor unions, tracking government contractors and monitoring vacancy rates for office space. Reiser said staff are working broadly with community colleges, unions and employers and are compiling contractor counts by reviewing data line-by-line. Supervisor comments emphasized uncertainty and a need for continued monitoring; Reiser said staff will provide the figures presented to the board in writing and produce the one-sheet on LRI in advance of the next meeting.

Why this matters: Loudoun's economy has significant exposure to the federal sector, and staff described efforts to connect potentially displaced federal employees to local employers and training resources while monitoring commercial vacancy and workforce metrics.","Department of Economic Development and the Economic Development Authority briefed the committee on workforce tracking, a new Loudoun Resilience Initiative for federal-layoff-impacted workers, and upcoming Small Business Summit events and outreach.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee authorizes staff to issue RFP for renewable natural gas facility at Loudoun County landfill

Assessment: Volunteer fire companies show improved controls; vendor management weakest area

County staff urge ongoing monitoring of federal funding after preliminary review of executive orders and agency changes

Loudoun Water outlines $1 billion capital program and three-year 7% rate increases starting Jan. 1, 2025

Loudoun officials outline workforce response to federal layoffs, promote Small Business Summit