VACo County Pulse Podcast

Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 19 | Balancing Demand and Supply in the Regional Electric Grid– discussion with PJM Interconnection

Episode 19 – Balancing Demand and Supply in the Regional Electric Grid – Discussion with PJM Interconnection. Joe Lerch talks with Jason Stanek, Executive Director of State Government Policy with PJM Interconnection the Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) for 13 states and the District Columbia in which Virginia’s electric utilities are members. They discuss the role PJM plays in generation and transmission of electricity and how policies and decisions at the state and local level have impacts on reliability and pricing in the bulk energy market.Where to find out more about topics covered in this episodePJM Website - HomepageEffective Load Carrying Capability (ELCC) Class Ratings by generation type - 2026/2027 Base Residual AuctionAsim Haque (PJM) Presentation to the Commission on Electric Utility Commission (CEUR) - May 22, 2025 (presentation starts at 1:25:31) Asim Haque Slide PresentationVACo 2025 Department of Energy Webinar - Demand Response Opportunities for CountiesVirginia narrowly avoided power cuts when 60 data centers dropped off the grid at once - DCD Jason Stanek, Executive Director State Government Policy - PJM, jason.stanek@pjm.com

Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 18 | Bonus Housing Episode with MACo

State and Local Housing Policy – Comparison of Maryland and Virginia with MACo Conduit Street Podcast.Joe Lerch talks with Dominic Butchko, Director of Intergovernmental Relations with the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) to discuss housing policy and legislation with our neighbors to the North. Listeners to episode 17 of our Energy Landscape of Virginia series will recognize this as part 2 of our foray into comparing how the Virginia and Maryland legislatures tackle prominent issues involving county land use, and the role that local governments play in addressing energy and housing needs.Where to find out more about topics covered in this episodeMaryland Housing Expansion and Affordability Act of 2024Underdevelopment Despite Upzoning (Presentation to Virginia Housing Commission July 15, 2024 - 1:02:47 - Video Archive) Underdevelopment Despite Upzoning - Richard Schragger, Sarah New -  Virginia Environmental Law Journal, 1 (2024) Maryland HB 1466 (awaiting action by the Governor) - Land Use and Real Property - Accessory Dwelling Units - Requirements and ProhibitionsVirginia HB 2533 (effective July 1, 2025) - comprehensive plan; tiny homes; accessory dwelling unitsDistrict of Columbia - Residential Accessory Apartment Program (RAAP)Virginia Building Code - Accessory Dwelling Units - 2018 USBCCode of Virginia - § 15.2-983. Creation of registry for short-term rental of propertyVirginia -  Report on the Findings and Recommendations of the Residential Infrastructure Fund Work Group (Chapter 509, 2024)Economic Development Workforce Housing Incentive Pilot Program (Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission)Aquifer Recharge - Sustainable Water Initiative for Tomorrow (SWIFT) - Hampton Roads Sanitation DistrictAnne Arundel County, Maryland - Managed Aquifer Recharge§ 15.2-2223.3. Comprehensive plan shall incorporate strategies to combat projected sea-level rise and recurrent flooding

Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 17 | State Energy Policy – Comparison of Maryland and Virginia with MACo Conduit Street Podcast

Joe Lerch talks with Dominic Butchko, Director of Intergovernmental Relations with the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) to compare both the differences and similarities between Maryland and Virginia when it comes to energy and its intersection with county land use and local authority. With a focus on state legislative policy and action, we delve into issues of utility-scale generation, energy storage, transmission, and the growing demand for electricity from the data center industry. Where to find out more about topics covered in this episodeUVA Weldon Cooper – Solar DatabaseVirginia (DEQ) Environmental Excellence Award – Nevados SolarPJM Regional Transmission Organization (RTO)Maryland Piedmont Reliability ProjectCommonwealth Fusion Systems – Chesterfield County Project

Uplifting Our Children Through Education | Episode 1

Energy Landscape of Virginia | Episode 16 | Nuclear Power, Small Modular Reactors, and Fusion

Energy Landscape of Virginia Episode 11 | Nuclear Power, Small Modular Reactors, and Fusion In 2023 nuclear power produced approximately one-third of all power from Virginia sources while representing only 12 percent of all generation capacity in the Commonwealth. Dominion Energy operates Virginia’s four nuclear units in plants located in Louisa and Surry counties, each with a capacity of more than 900 megawatts in generation. Each unit operates continuously at capacity, only coming off-line temporarily to refuel approximately every 18 months. In this episode, we sat down with Erich Fritz, manager of business development, and Marc Hofmann, manager of nuclear emergency preparedness and licensing with Dominion to learn more about their existing nuclear fleet, their plans for developing small modular reactors, as well as their partnership with Commonwealth Fusion Systems to assist in building Virginia’s first commercially operating nuclear fusion reactor.Where to find out more about topics covered in this episode:Dominion Energy Nuclear FacilitiesDominion seeking small nuclear reactor proposals • Virginia MercuryAppalachian Power - SMR PlanCommonwealth Fusion Systems to Build World’s First Commercial Fusion Power Plant in Virginia | Commonwealth Fusion SystemsCalifornia ISO – Today’s Outlook for Supply and Renewables