Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail Interpretative Signage Installed
The first two interpretative signs as part of NVRC’s work on the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail with the National Park Service and local partners have been installed in the Town of Occoquan. Other signs will be installed in Leesylvania State Park and in Loudoun County. You can read more about this project by clicking on the button.
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It's Hurricane Season - Be Prepared
Season Runs June 1 to November 30
Hurricane season officially runs from June 1st to November 30th, but it's never too early to prepare. Taking proactive steps can make a world of difference when a storm threatens.
Assemble Your Home Emergency Kit
Being prepared at home is essential. Here are some key items to include in your home emergency kit:
- Non-perishable food (enough for 3-7 days) and bottled water (one gallon per person per day)
- First-aid kit and any necessary medications
- Flashlight, batteries, and a battery-powered radio
- Cash (ATMs may not be functional during power outages)
- Sanitation and personal hygiene items
- Important documents (copies of insurance, IDs, etc.) in a waterproof container
- Cell phone charger (portable charger is ideal)
- Maps of the local area
This is not an exhaustive list. Consider the specific needs of your family and pets when assembling your kit. The Virginia Department of Emergency Management has list of suggested items to consider as part of an emergency kit. You can also visit the Ready.gov web site from the Federal government.
Stay informed and prepared throughout the hurricane season. By taking action now, you can ensure the safety of yourself and your loved ones during a storm.
NOVAnext at the Northern Virginia Community College
With many thanks to the President of the Northern Virginia Community College for authoring guest blog post on the NOVANext program offering help to our neighbors who are former federal employees or contractor.
NVRC Urges NOAA to Continue Work to Update Storm Water Management Infrastructure Data Products
Resources for NOAA Atlas 15 have been appropriated by Congress, and work has already Begun.
The Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC) has joined its colleagues at the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC) in urging NOAA’s continued work on Atlas 15, Volume 2. NVRC sent a letter to the Secretary of Commerce, who oversees NOAA, as well as to NOAA and the Northern Virginia Congressional delegation.
In a rapidly changing climate, having access to accurate and up-to-date weather data is critical. That’s why the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC) is urging federal officials to resume work on NOAA Atlas 15, Volume 2 — a scientific resource that helps communities prepare for future rainfall patterns and extreme weather events.
Atlas 15 is being developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to update rainfall data used in the design of stormwater systems, flood protections, and other vital infrastructure. Volume 1 focuses on historical precipitation trends, but Volume 2 goes a step further — projecting how precipitation will likely change in the future due to climate change. Unfortunately, NOAA has paused the release of Volume 2 indefinitely, despite funding already being approved by Congress and work already underway.
In Northern Virginia, we’re already seeing more intense storms and localized flooding. Without accurate projections, cities and counties are left to make infrastructure decisions with outdated or incomplete information. This increases risk, costs taxpayers more in the long run, and leaves residents and businesses more vulnerable.
We believe future-focused data like what Atlas 15 Volume 2 would provide is essential to building resilient communities. That’s why NVRC is calling on NOAA and the U.S. Department of Commerce to reinstate this important work.
Everyone deserves safe, reliable infrastructure — and that starts with good science.
Meeting Delegation from State of Thuringia
NVRC's Executive Director was invited to meet a delegation of state government officials and business leaders from the German State of Thuringia at the German Embassy in Washington, D.C. There was a panel discussion on which a representative from the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority was a participant.
Germany is the second largest investor in Northern Virginia and there are great number of opportunities for their companies to invest in our region. To learn more about German investment in our region, please view our study on foreign direct investment by clicking on the button.
House Reconciliation Bill Threatens Residential Solar Growth
Bill Passed By House Would Eliminate the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for Residential Solar by End of this Year - Residential Sector Represents 97% of Solar Installs in United States
The Reconciliation Bill adopted by the House on May 22 would end the ITC for residential projects at the end of calendar year 2025 which is 9 years earlier than in current statute.
The federal solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) was first established as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, signed into law by President George W. Bush on August 8, 2005. When initially adopted, the ITC was set at a rate of 30% for both residential and commercial solar installations. The ITC has been extended a number of times on a bipartisan basis.
Read more on this subject and its impact in our blog post.
Two Free Webinars on Solar PV Planning, Permitting, Inspection and Zoning
Webinars Will Also Include an Overview of Best Practices for Battery Energy Storage Systems
NVRC is pleased to share information on two free webinars related to planning, permitting, inspection and zoning for Solar PV systems. In addition, the webinars will provide an overview of best practices related to Battery Energy Storage Systems. These webinars are presented by the SolSmart program.
June 3, 2025 | 1PM - Best Practices in Permitting and Inspection for Solar PV and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
June 25, 2025 | 1PM - Best Practices in Planning and Zoning for Solar PV and Large-Scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
Webinar descriptions with link to registration can be found by clicking on the button.
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Upcoming Webinars
Webinar: District Energy, Data Centers & Sustainability: The Story of Seattle, Amazon and the Denny Triangle Neighborhood
Wednesday, July 16, 2025 - 12 Noon to 1PM EST
Please join the Northern Virginia Regional Commission for a webinar that will share the story of Amazon’s work in the Denny Triangle neighborhood in Seattle to recycle waste heat from data centers via district energy.
Tom Marseille, PE, of Sazan, will give an overview of his involvement with the design, planning and construction of the project as well as share insights into the project’s budgeting and operations.
District energy is emerging as a viable means to promote sustainable energy under Virginia’s “all-the-above” approach to energy policy - especially for data center-rich regions such as Northern Virginia. Moreover, local governments have multiple tools to plan, design and operate district energy systems in tandem with other sustainable energy applications. This webinar aspires to explore how Seattle’s experiences with data centers and district energy could inform equivalent projects in Northern Virginia.
About the Northern Virginia Regional Commission
NVRC is a consortium of thirteen local governments representing more than 2.6 million residents. While only 3% of Virginia's land mass, Northern Virginia has a GDP of $302 Billion which is 42.0% of the GDP of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Northern Virginia’s GDP is larger than 24 states and the District of Columbia and if a country would be the 48th largest economy in the world.