The Loudoun County Environmental Commission hosted the second annual Energy and Environmental Forum at the Academies of Loudoun to promote ways residents can help increase environment and energy sustainability May 17.
The Loudoun County Environmental Commission hosted the second annual Energy and Environmental Forum at the Academies of Loudoun to promote ways residents can help increase environment and energy sustainability May 17.
The Loudoun County Environmental Commission on Tuesday hosted the second annual Energy and Environmental Forum at the Academies of Loudoun to promote ways residents can help increase environment and energy sustainability.
Supervisor Laura A. Tekrony (D-Little River) opened the forum, saying environmental concerns are high on her priority list.
“Our voice is critical in this journey,” she said.
She said the Environmental Commission was among the most productive of the county’s advisory panels.
The program included eight 20-minute breakout information sessions on topics that included driving electric vehicles, solar energy, wildlife, solar for your home, successful planting of native trees, and tracking rainwater to your faucet.
As part of the listening sessions, participants had the chance to express their concerns and opinions regarding the environmental energy sustainability and what steps the county should take.
Supervisor Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn) could not attend the event but left some remarks to be read.
“We all play a role in the environment,” he said. “We need fresh minds, new ideas, and bold thinking.”
Turner said there are three trends that will “dominate” the energy landscape going forward: global demand for data will continue to increase exponentially, demand for more power to support that data processing will increase, and community resistance will also continue to increase.
Commission Chair Gem Bingol briefed the audience on the panel’s work, including the development of a tree canopy study, natural resources strategy and a waste heat pilot project.
Alexa Busby, a student at William and Mary majoring in biology, said she worked with the commission last year on a project to improve safety for wildlife and drivers. She said Loudoun has the highest rate for wildlife-vehicle collisions.
“There are three major existing strategies to mitigate the impact of wildlife-vehicle collisions,” she said.
Those strategies are constructing over passes to allow animals safe passage, adding fencing at existing overpasses or as a last resort, using messaging signs to warn drivers during peak wildlife movement.
Residents who attended the forum were given a survey to share any additional information about the county’s environmental initiatives. That survey is also available on the county’s website.
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