Vision without Implementation is Hallucination

As discussed earlier, the Mayor and some Council Members over the past six years have proposed a myriad of schemes with respect to monetization of Town assets while ignoring the advice of their paid fiscal/utility experts with respect to the need for recurring water and sewer revenues. Valuable time has been lost and precious monetary resources are being drained from the Town’s reserves.

Here are a few of the ideas with the amount of revenue (or loss) generated to date:

Bottle Purcellville Water — No implementation — $0

Equestrian Center on Reservoir Property — No implementation — $0

Equestrian Center on Aberdeen Property — No implementation — $0

Growing Hops on Aberdeen Property — No implementation — $0

Bulk Water Sales — Implemented, but suspended — Results was loss of revenue ($66K+) and damage to Hirst Farm water wells.

Drone Racing Center — No implementation — $0

Privatization of Fireman’s Field — Implemented, but suspended — No savings and youth sports leagues kicked off main field.

Timbering Watershed Property — One-half of the 1,200 acres of the watershed property was timbered. This is a once in a multiple decade revenue. It takes several decades for the trees to regenerate. Results were as follows: FY2017 $92,484.07 — FY2018 $252,234.00 — FY2019 $18,473.40

Wetlands Mitigation Bank — No implementation to date; risks include: (1) a high risk of deer predation which causes tree loss, and (2) the proximity of the Nutrient Bank to the Town’s water resources may limit the use of herbicides to an extent that allows invasive plants to choke off new tree growth. Both risks, if realized, would increase the cost to establish the Bank, thereby increasing expenses, and delaying the time when revenues can be realized — $0

12 to 15 Story Cell Tower Next to Hirst Farm Neighborhood — No implementation to date; RFP issued; contract discussions ongoing — $0

Utility Scale Solar on Aberdeen Property — No implementation; property has a conservation easement which could prohibit a utility scale solar array on the property; additionally utility scale solar is not permitted by the County zoning ordinance (property is in County)- $0

Possible Solutions

Easy to be a critic, what is next?

Solar

I have both personally and professionally supported renewable energy as an opportunity for local governments to save money and generate revenue. Since December 2014 we have enjoyed the benefits of a solar array on our home.

This past year the Virginia General Assembly passed and the Governor signed into law the Virginia Clean Energy Act. One of the important components of the Act is the expansion of the cap on Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) from 50MW to 500MW. Meaning local governments can once again consider solar PPAs as the cap which had been reached has been lifted many times fold.

The nice thing about PPAs is that there is no capital or maintenance cost to the locality. That cost is borne by the solar developer.

As I understand it in the media, Sun Tribe Solar, a very good utility scale solar company, that has undertaken PPA projects with local governments in Virginia, has proposed a utility scale solar array on the Aberdeen property.

As I pointed out earlier, there are hurdles which may not be able to be overcome. Regardless, this is a project that will not generate revenue to the Town any time soon, but as a ratepayer and renewable energy advocate am hopeful that it can come to fruition.

Recurring Revenues Needed (that means economic development)

The Town’s rate consultant in a report dated February 22, 2017 indicated that if the Town approved 125 more utility connections (essentially a neighborhood half the size of Locust Grove) it would generate enough connection fees and income to keep rates stable with annualized increases at 2% for a five-year period. That report was three years ago and valuable time has been lost advancing schemes that have generated ZERO recurring dollars and put even more negative pressure on the Town’s fiscal condition.

Are 125 more families going to destroy the character and charm of Purcellville?

No.

If you are unwilling to increase the number of connections, increase the amount of economic development in Town and continue to advance empty promises will that have a negative impact?

Yes.

Sadly, the Council has down planned property that would allow for economic development and provide badly needed resources for the Town.

Look at the Information Yourself

All of the rate expert reports can be viewed on line. Take a look at the information yourself to understand what the experts have proposed.

Numerous scenarios are presented — it is clear, however, that without implementation the Town’s finances will continue to suffer and bad ideas like giving up local control of our utility system or re-borrowing money for a 40-year term for the sewer plant (meaning you will pay multiple times more for the same facility) will continue to be surfaced.