Debate Over Lorton Landfill Continues at Public Hearing

Fairfax County:

“The debate over the future of the Lorton landfill continued as community members commented before the Fairfax County Planning Commission at a public hearing on Feb. 27. Over 50 people signed up to speak on the EnviroSolutions application to extend landfill operations until 2040, with the meeting going into the early hours of the morning.

EnviroSolutions, who owns the Lorton landfill, is applying for permission to widen the landfill and continue operations until 2040. EnviroSolutions’ proposed green energy triangle at the site of the landfill, which includes the development of geothermal energy, three wind turbines, and solar panels, was a major topic at the hearing.

Supporters cited the green energy as being beneficial for the county, as well as EnviroSolutions’ commitment to providing the community with $18 million, given out in increments over the course of two decades between 2019 and 2040. Jim Corcoran, president and CEO of the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce, which endorses the EnviroSolutions application to extend the landfill, said that a green energy triangle will enhance the county’s reputation.”

~Writes Janelle Germanos of The Connection

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Loudoun Water Purchases Beaverdam, Goose Creek Reservoirs

Loudoun County:

“Loudoun Water has finalized the purchase of all Loudoun-based drinking water assets from the City of Fairfax. The $30 million purchase includes the Goose Creek Water Treatment Plant, Goose Creek and Beaverdam reservoirs and a pipeline along the W&OD Trail to the Fairfax County line.

Fairfax established its drinking water system in Loudoun County during the late 1950s. Since that time, Fairfax has provided drinking water to Loudoun Water customers through a wholesale water purchase agreement, while sending the majority of drinking water to its customers via a cross-county transmission pipeline. As a result of Loudoun Water's purchase, City of Fairfax residents will be served by Fairfax Water, and Loudoun Water will dedicate the full 11-million-gallon-per-day capacity of the Goose Creek Water Treatment Plant to serving its growing customer base.

‘By purchasing these assets, we seized a strategic opportunity to own our future and have better control over significant operations impacting our customers,’ Loudoun Water General Manager Fred Jennings said in a statement announcing the purchase. ‘The value of owning these assets is only enhanced by their strategic fit with our initiative to establish new drinking water resources along the Potomac River and Goose Creek. This purchase complements our capital programs and provides our customers reliability and sustainability long into the future.’”

~Writes Erika Jacobson Moore of Leesburg Today

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Council Mulls Options for Water Sale Proceeds

City of Falls Church:

“Falls Church City Manager Wyatt Shields was slated to review a range of options for the use of net cash proceeds of about $14 million from the sale of the Falls Church Water System to the Fairfax Water Authority at a F.C. City Council work session Wednesday night, in advance of a Feb. 3 work session to which he’s invited professional consultants to ‘provide some independent suggestions on the use of the one-time proceeds from the sale.’

Options mulled so far have included investment in the City’s pension plan that could reduce the City’s annual required contribution by $980,000, use of the funds for ‘pay as you go’ to mitigate cost of capital improvement projects now on the drawing boards (such as a new high school), and the formation of an endowment that could generate $371,000 to $651,000 per year.”

~ Writes the Falls Church News-Press

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Fairfax Water to Supply City of Fairfax Residents

Fairfax County

“The City of Fairfax completed the sale of its water utility to Fairfax Water, beginning the process of merging these two water systems. ‘Fairfax Water is pleased to welcome the customers of the City of Fairfax service area to our family of 1.7 million Northern Virginians who receive water service from Fairfax Water. We look forward to continuing our history of providing exceptional service, quality, and reliability to our customers,’ said Philip W. Allin, Chairman of Fairfax Water.

In commenting on the transition Mayor Silverthorne said, ‘This is a win-win for all parties. City residents will continue to receive plentiful high-quality water plus lower rates for water in the future. In the final analysis, we had to give first consideration to an opportunity that would save our residents money in the near and long term.’

The City Council voted to sell the system in April 2013. In signing the final papers today, Fairfax Water purchased the City of Fairfax water system, transferred employment of the City’s water system employees to Fairfax Water, and guaranteed the reduction of water rates for the City of Fairfax water system customers to be equalized to the Fairfax Water rates within three years.”

~Writes The Connection

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