Loudoun staff report progress on energy, tree canopy, EV charging and landfill-gas study

Loudoun County staff provided the Transportation and Land Use Committee a quarterly update Jan. 29 on the Environment and Energy work plan, reporting progress across renewable energy, natural resources, public engagement and government-by-example initiatives.

The county said it will present a final draft county energy strategy in April and will meet with the data center coalition and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in February to discuss how data centers can use more renewable energy. Staff noted a scheduled Feb. meeting with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the data center coalition to explore pathways for local data centers to increase renewable procurement.

Natural resources: staff reported a tree-canopy study showing a net gain of about 3 percent countywide between 2012 and 2023. “We are happy to report that actually, there was a gain in tree canopy in Loudoun County, during the period of 2012 to 2023 by approximately 3%,” a department presenter said. Staff said much of the gain reflected land conversion in transition and rural areas and that eastern portions of the county still show canopy deficits.

Charging and fleet: staff said public EV charging infrastructure has expanded to nine locations, with the Dulles South Recreation Center recently added. On fleet electrification, staff said battery-electric buses emit no tailpipe carbon dioxide compared with conventional diesel models and that the county is pursuing a mix of no- and low-emission vehicles for operational needs.

Landfill gas and facility work: staff reported completion of a landfill-gas feasibility study and said they plan to bring an RFP suggestion back to the board in March exploring beneficial use of landfill gas; the landfill is the county’s largest facility-level greenhouse-gas emitter, staff said. The department also reported completion of 103 building energy audits and work to fold energy-efficiency measures into capital asset planning.

Environmental justice and public engagement: staff said they have finalized energy-equity work with a consultant and are developing a community energy outreach program aimed at nonprofits, houses of faith and businesses. The Environmental Excellence Awards will continue in 2025; judging is done by the Environmental Commission.

Invasive-species and watershed programs: staff and commissioners discussed an invasive-species initiative and related floodplain and best management practice (BMP) complexities. Committee members asked the Environmental Commission to review options so the board can use $2,000,000 set aside for an invasive-species program judiciously when implementation is appropriate. Staff also said the Bull Run Watershed Management Plan has been kicked off and that HOA funding will support pet-waste and tree-planting projects that target water-quality improvements.

Next steps: staff said they expect to return with additional details in April and with an RFP suggestion on landfill-gas beneficial use in March. No formal committee action was taken during the update.