LCCSS - Loudoun County Committee for a Sustainable Society
Mission: Sustainable Loudoun promotes the development of a local community economy based on environmental stewardship and the sustainable use of resources.
Local & State LCCSS Efforts and Campaigns

In addition to sponsoring public education and outreach events, LCCSS members have participated in advocacy and actions towards achieving our goal of energy sustainability in Loudoun. Read below to track some artifacts of our efforts.

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2010 Expert Panel Seminar on Energy Management

Green Building: Learn from experts what it takes to make your home/office energy efficient.

On Fri Nov 13, 2009, 60+ Loudoun residents, industry and government representatives attended this event at GWU Virginia Campus to learn from local experts what it costs to make your home energy efficient, and how that investment pays for itself by lowering your energy bills.

Event slides:

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2010 Chesapeake Bay Protection Ordinance

Loudoun's streams are in trouble.

  • A 2009 study funded in part by the US EPA found found that 78% of Loudoun stream miles were stressed or severely stressed by water pollution. In addition, according to the Loudoun County 2009 Annual Water Resources for the period 2005 - 2009, bacteria levels at 53% - 83% of all stream sites sampled exceeded the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VA DEQ) limits for recreational/swimming use. In other words, it is not safe to come in contact with water from those streams.
  • In 2007, the VA DEQ posted a Health Hazard sign warning against eating fish from Broad Run and Goose Creek due to PCBs in fish tissue.
Fortunately, there is help in sight! It is called the Chesapeake Bay Protection Ordinance. Visit Loudoun Clean Streams Coalition Blog at loudounstreams.org to read the ordinance itself, get answers to Frequently Asked Questions, and learn what you can do to help ensure that the Board of Supervisors votes on September 21 to move forward.

In addition, sign an on-line petition, visit The Petition Site at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/40/help-protect-Loudoun-streams/ Put your passion for the environment into action. Each voice counts! Your supervisor needs to hear yours."

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Loudoun County Energy Strategy (2009)

In order to qualify for the alloted $2 million Federal Grant money offered through the Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (EEGBG), Loudoun County is required to submit a Energy Plan or Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy. As Loudoun County did not have a pre-existing plan, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors (BOS) Energy Efficiency Committee initiated a process to draft one.

The following documents reflect hours of staff and consultant research, stakeholder input, and revision. The County considers this document to be a beginning point of an evolving strategy to achieve the stated goals of the EEGBG grants, which intersect with our County's energy goals:

  • jobs created and/or retained
  • energy saved
  • renewable energy capacity increased
  • Greenhouse Gas emissions reduced
  • funds leveraged

Documents:
Sept 09, 2009 County Energy Plan Draft developed by consultants, received input from interested community
Nov 22, 2009 County Energy Strategy - Final final draft to be presented to Board for adoption in December
Nov 22, 2009 Executive Summary, Sec 2-2 breakdown of proposed projects by grant money invested
Nov 22, 2009 Board Information Item provides background on history and purpose of Strategy document

Timeline:
Summer 2009 Staff and Consultants Drafted County Energy Plan (CEP)
Sept 2009 CEP Community Input Sessions held
Nov 22, 2009 County Energy Strategy (CES) (revision of CEP) released
Dec 1, 2009 10am Executive Summary of CES by Peter Garforth presented at BOS business meeting
Dec 14, 2009 6:30pm Board of Supervisors Public Input Session for CES feedback
Dec 15, 2009 10am Board of Supervisors considers adoption of the CES during business meeting
Dec 15th update: On this day, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors voted 5 to 4 to approve the proposed County Energy Strategy. See Split Board Adopts Long-Range Energy Strategy article from Leesburg Today online.

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2009 Green Living Forum

Learn how to incorporate sustainable practices into your everyday lifestyle, improve your quality of life, and save money while saving resources.

On Fri Nov 13, 2009, 90+ Loudoun residents, industry and government representatives attended this event at GWU Virginia Campus to learn about green living options that reduce costs, increase personal and family health, and reduce environmental impacts at home. Our keynote speaker, Martin Ogle, encouraged us to pursue individual sustainability through a personal connection with Nature.

Event slides:

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Green Enterprise and Beer

We meet @ ~6pm, the second Friday of each month at Emilio's Brick Oven Pizza Restaurant in Sterling. It is an informally gather where we discuss ideas for conducting business in a more environmentally friendly way. Additionally, gatherings will often feature a guest speaker.

See what's on the calendar of the upcoming months here: Loudoun Green Drinks Events.

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EarthDay@Loudoun Family Festival

The 2nd annual EarthDay@Loudoun Family Festival will offer virtually everything for the eco-conscious. Enjoy more than 75 exhibitors, a Green Marketplace offering earth-friendly products and services, hands-on educational activities for all ages and many other entertainment options.

EarthDay@Loudoun is a local, family friendly celebration intended to promote the environment, eco-friendly products and services and positive environmental activism.

Organized by the Broadlands Wildlife Habitat Committee, EarthDay@Loudoun 2010 is co-chaired by Loudoun County School Board Chair John Stevens and Board of Supervisors Chair Scott York.

The festival and associated events are accepting sponsorships and partipation from local companies and organizations.

For more information on how to participate, go to www.earthdayatloudoun.org or call (703) 725-8040

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2008 Sustainable Loudoun Energy Summit

What can governments do to respond to local and global energy and resource challenges?

On Fri Nov 14, 2008, 90+ Loudoun residents, industry and government representatives gathered to hear the guest presenters share their insights on the initatives that local, regional, state and federal governments are taking to put Loudoun on a more secure and sustainable path for future generations.

Event slides:

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In Our State: Virginia Clean Energy Future Act (2008)

Tired of waiting for clean energy? For too long, we've been heading down the path of dirty energy, coal, oil, nuclear. And what has it given us? Mercury in our fish. Mountaintop removal coal mining.... Global Warming.

The "Virginia Clean Energy Future Act", Senate Bill 446 was introduced by Senator Chap Peterson in the 2008 Virginia General Assembly docket. This is our vision for Virginia's energy future.

Update: The bill did not pass in the 2008 Virginia Legislative Session, but was referred to committee.

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Loudoun County's Energy Efficiency Committee (E2C)

In 2007, Sustainable Loudoun members were among a dedicated group of citizens and representatives of local government and industry contributing their ideas towards the goals of the recently convened Ad Hoc Committee for Energy Efficiency. The Committe includes Supervisors Stevens Miller, Scott York, Kelly Burk, School Board Chair Robert DuPree, and Andrea McGimsey who chairs the committee.

In January 2009, the Board of Supervisors created the Committee on Energy & Environment as a new standing committee, replacing the Ad Hoc Committee on Energy Efficiency formed a year earlier.

Official Loudoun E2C documents:

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No New Coal in Virginia

The Virginia City "Hybrid Energy Center"
In 2006, Virginia approved the construction of a new coal-fired power plant to be located in Wise County Virginia. The legislators were told that the new plant would use new technology to be environment friendly, and would be equipped for carbon sequestration. What Dominion does not want them (and us) to know is THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS CLEAN COAL.

Virginia doesn't need more coal power plants
Virginia needs to invest in clean renewable energy, not continue down the path of an outdated dirty energy plan. The Commonwealth's plans to build more coal-fired power plants will accelerate global warming, mountain top removal mining, the construction of new transmission lines, and the poisoning of our air and water.

Coal is a poor business investment for Virginia's future
Our nation will be making great strides in the coming decade to reduce our carbon footprint. This process has begun worldwide, and US cities are adopting clean energy policies rapidly. We DON'T want to invest VA money in a technology that is destined to break clean air regulations before it has even become operational.

Update: July 1, 2008, the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board awarded final permits for construction of the Wise County Coal Plant. But the fight is far from over. We are headed to court where we believe the controversial $1.8 billion plant will be rejected, in part on global warming grounds.

Clean Energy Virginia: Read about the coalition of organizations trying to resist the new Dominion coal power plant in Wise County.

Chesapeake Climate Action Network - Cooling the Commonwealth: out with the coal, in with the Renewable Energy. Take action here.

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2007 Alternative Energy Summit

Global Warming.... Peak Oil. Cool Heads and Solutions Required. Be Part of the Solution.

On Nov 9th, 2007, 100 Loudoun residents, industry and government representatives gathered to learn about the possibilities of alternative energy here in Loudoun County Virginia.

Event slides:

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Campaign 2007: LCCSS Surveys

Questionnaires constructed by LCCSS members are being used to educate candidates and voters on issues of sustainability in this 2007 Election Year.

LCCSS Questionnaire for Loudoun County School Board Candidates
a 6 question survey with opportunity for comments, pdf version

LCCSS Questionnaire for Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Candidates
a 10 question survey with opportunity for comments, pdf version

Results of our Campaign 2007 surveys are posted here.

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LCCSS Education Initiatives

LCPS Regional Science and Engineering Fair
For the past 2 years ('07, '08), LCCSS has participated as provided sponsorship and judging for prizes for the LCPS Regional Science and Engineering Fair. Three sustainability prizes are offered through partnership with local philantropic and business donations.

2008 winners of the Sustainabity Special Awards, sponsored by REHAU
  • First Prize: Heather Rodgers 1215 Loudoun Valley High School
  • Second Prize: Ian Pearson 1107, Dominion High School
  • Third Prize: Timothy Gondo 1002, Broad Run High School

Awards were given to the winning students at an awards ceremony on Apr 22, 2008.

LCCSS/Education Subcommittee
In June 2007, members of LCCSS formed a sub-committee focused on working with the local schools to influence the environment (school lunches, playground pesticides, green school buildings) and curriculum (provide materials, promote events to HS students, provide guest speakers).

Our first effort: create and distribute the LCCSS Questionnaire for Loudoun County School Board Candidates.

The group hopes to focus more tightly on School Nutrition in the future.

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Energy Efficient construction in Loudoun County

Geothermal Heating and Cooling
Slides from Frederick Neal's presentation at the Rural Alliance for Clean Energy (RACEnergy) meeting July 18 2007.

Sustainability in Arlington
Slides from the April 17, 2007 presentation at REHAU:
Fresh AIRE Arlington Initiative to Reduce Emissions
- John Morrill, Energy Manager of Arlington County government
Working Towards Sustainable Energy Use At APS (Arlington Public Schools)
- Kevin Chisolm - Energy Manager for APS
Green Buildings in Arlington, Virginia
- Joan Kelsch - coordinator of Arlington's Green Building programs

Solar Homes for Loudoun County - slides from presentation 3/12/07 by Alden Hathaway, Director, Eco-Power Program/Environmental Resources Trust and Carter Morrow, President Bay Homes, Round Hill VA
   PDF format for Solar Homes presentation

"Builder goes boldly into solar power" LCCSS member Carter Morrow interviewed by Shannon Sollinger, Loudoun Times Mirror.

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Programs and Activities in the Metropolitan Washington Region (October 2005) showing how Loudoun County compares with other local jurisdictions.

Energy Efficient buildings in Loudoun
  • Loudoun County School Administration Building is LEED certified
  • Blue Ridge Business Journal issue (1/27/07): Blue Ridge Region embraces green building slowly cites Lovettsville's EcoVillage development as industry leader.
  • Howard Hughes Medical Center, in Ashburn VA. Designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects PC, the campus has many green and sustainable features.
  • Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC), Loudoun Campus
    Provost meeting notes indicate that a Green Construction Committee has been appointed by the College Senate to help inform the college's new construction activities about green construction.
  • Technology/Life Science Campus, Ashburn (Monroe Advanced Technology Academy) , in planning stages, is envisioned by the school board to incorporate Green Building design features.

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2006 Northern Virginia Climate Change Summit (NVCC)

Ashburn VA, November 9th, 2006. At GWU/Virginia Campus a crowd of over 85 citizens, activists and leaders convened to discuss the energy issues that are affecting our region. The multiple sponsors planning this event provided resources and opportunities to act on the issue of global warming and worldwide oil/resource depletion.
Summit slides:
   *Intro/Sponsors   *Peak Oil   *Be Part of the Solution  
In the News
   Activists Discuss Global Warming by Katie Murphy, Loudoun Observer.
   Climate change 'so fast you can see it' by Martin Casey, Loudoun Easterner
   Clean energy takes center stage by Jennifer Fulcher, Loudoun Times Mirror.
Tony's corner
   "Overshoot and the Path to Sustainability" by LCCSS founder Tony Noerpel

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Cool Cities: US Mayors Climate Protections Agreement

We would like to see Leesburg be the first Loudoun town to sign on! Arlington, Richmond, Williamsburg, Alexandria, Virginia Beach and Charlottsville are all cities whose mayors and communities have made a commitment to stopping global warming by signing the U.S. Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement.

See Linda's slide presentation about Cool Cities Leesburg.
LCCSS Cool Cities Committee is working with the Town of Leesburg to promote energy efficiency in Leesburg.

Cool Counties: Launch Major Global Warming Initiative

Sierra Club and the several US counties including neighboring Fairfax County have formed a "Cool Counties" initiative, similar to the Cool Cities U.S. Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement.

  • U.S. Cool Counties Climate Stabilization Declaration - "WHEREAS, there is a consensus among the world's leading scientists that global warming caused by human emission of greenhouse gases is among the most significant problems facing the world today...."
  • Cool Counties Policies and Programs Template - 18 pages of road map presented at the National Association of Counties Annual Conference July 16, 2007
  • Fairfax County's Green Initiatives

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    Local, Sustainable Food Production in Loudoun

    LCCSS presented several programs in 2007 focused on the environmental effects of our food consumption patterns. Loudoun food experts, farmers and feature films presented information which emphasized the benefits of local, sustainably grown food.

    Cheap energy and agricultural subsidies facilitate a type of agriculture that is destroying and polluting our soils and water, weakening our communities, and threatening the security of our food systems. By buying locally grown food, we can help preserve the environment, and strengthen our community by investing our food dollar close to home.

    Why Buy Local?
    A one-page explanation from the Local Harvest web site.

    Loudoun County's Buy Fresh Buy Local downloadable guide to Loudoun farms developed by PEC helps consumers find local products while building relationships between growers, food artisans, farmers' markets retailers, restaurants, and institutions.

    Food Resources in Loudoun County VA
    This compilation, created by LCCSS members Gina Faber and Grady O'Rear, itemizes Local and Sustainable Food resources right here in Loudoun County, from farmers markets and raw milk cow share programs to books & films in our local libraries. Last updated: 5/09.

    Fresh from the Loudoun Valleys
    Loudoun County's Economic Development department created this marvelous resource on which you can find:

    Finally, join other Loudoun locavores at the Yahoo group Loudoun Locavores. This group is for anyone and everyone who wants to get more local foods into their diet and for those that want to invest in their communities.

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    Construction Waste Recycling

    Ace Waste President Ken Mogul wants to bring the latest construction waste recycling technology to Loudoun, one of the fastest-growing counties in the country. The proposed facility in the Dulles area would be the county's first green building and pledges a 95% reuse rate! Visit the Ace Waste website or read a brief description the project.

    In the news:
       Jan 25 2007 article in Leesburg Today about Ace Waste Recycling proposal
       Nov 5 2006 article in Washington Post about Ace Waste Recycling Facility
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    Virginia Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard, 2007(RPS) Bill

    Members of LCCSS participated in the 2007 CCAN/VCN campaign to pass the Virginia Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS) Bill. Relying on renewable resources for our electricity will lower our dependence on coal, oil and natural gas. It's time for Virginia to join a growing number of states in embracing clean energy. It's good for the economy, good for energy security, good for public health and good for the environment.

    Update: The 2007 General Assembly passed legislation that, among other provisions, established incentives to implement a renewable energy portfolio standard program. Renewable Energy Standards. Go to top of page

    Dickerson Power Plant

    The Dickerson Power Plant, operated by Mirant power company, is located just across the Potomac River from the Eastern edge of Loudoun County. In response to student, faith, environmental and agricultural leaders condemnation of Mirant corporation for ignoring public health and rapid global warming, Mirant has promised pollution mitigating improvements to the Dickerson Power Plant. But vigilance is necessary!

    In Lucketts VA on May 16th 2006, Loudoun civic groups (LCCSS, Progressive Action League) assembled a panel discussion on the health and environmental impacts of the coal-fired plant on Loudoun County. See summary page.

    Take action: Read up on The Environmental Integrity Project's research and ongoing legal efforts.

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    • For more information about LCCSS, please contact

    Tony Noerpel
    [email protected]
    (540) 882-3289

    or, subscribe to the LCCSS mailing list.

    last updated: Nov 2010