Waterford Foundation

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In Memory

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Remembering those who have contributed to the Waterford community.

Jill Beach

Jill Beach, Waterford resident and longtime Waterford Foundation supporter, died on March 22, 2025. Jill served on the Board of the Waterford Foundation from 1981 to 1988. Together with her late husband Mark, she was a strong advocate for preservation, supporting the Foundation in the maintenance and preservation of the Schooley Mill Barn and meadow. She was a strong supporter of the Waterford Concert Series and the campaign to build the new Old School Auditorium following the 2007 fire. Jill was also a strong supporter of the Waterford Fair. She opened her home The Dormers on Second Street for the Waterford Fair Homes Tour several times. Together with friend and neighbor Susanne Page, Jill started the Waterford Fair Photography Exhibit and ran the Exhibit for many years. Fellow Photography Exhibit co-chair Schuyler Richardson remembers Jill’s contributions to the Exhibit:

I was the worrier and Jill was always the cool and calm one. I worried about finding the judges; would we have enough entries or too many photographs etc. Jill would always say, “You don’t have to worry, everything always works out.” And it did, until the weekend of the hurricane. We had joined forces with The Fine Arts Show and were located in the Schooley Mill Barn. The show was hung beautifully, but then it started to rain, pour and blow. Jill and I ran to the barn and moved all the photos to her house. That was the year the Fair was cancelled. I am happy to say all the photographs survived.

One of Jill’s superpowers was having such a great “eye” for hanging the show. We would start with a multitude of photographs in numerous categories and Jill could figure out the perfect location for each one. It looked so effortless, but it took a real talent to hang the show. She was so great at it that the Loudoun Photo Club asked her to hang one of their shows.

Kathleen Elder

Kathleen Elder, former Waterford Foundation Board member, died on May 21, 2024 at home with her family. Kathleen served on the Board of the Foundation from 2015-2016 and also served as chair of the Land Use Committee. She was a fierce advocate for historic preservation and conservation in the Waterford community, and she supported the concept of preserving and celebrating the Foundation’s 13 historic properties through adaptive reuse. 

Funeral services for Kathleen will be held at St. James Episcopal Church in Leesburg at 11:00am on June 8, 2024 with a reception to follow at the Waterford Old School. To honor Kathleen’s love of books, the family requests that those attending the reception bring a book to exchange with others.

Read more about Kathleen in her obituary here from the Loudoun Times-Mirror.

Susanne Page

Susanne Page, photographer and Waterford resident, died on May 13, 2024 following a brief illness. A celebrated photographer of indigenous people, Susanne brought her experience and love for photography to the Waterford community when she and fellow resident Jill Beach started the Waterford Fair Photography Exhibit. Together they ran the Exhibit for many years.

As Schuyler Richardson, fellow photographer and Exhibit volunteer remembers:

Page, left, with friend and fellow Photography Exhibit volunteer Jill Beach in 2016. Photo by Schuyler Richardson

“during one of the last Fair photography shows, I was upstairs in the Red Barn, reviewing the many details of the show and feeling rather nervous. I looked up and standing quietly in the doorway was Susanne ready and willing to help. Never have I felt so relieved and happy to see anyone. She was just so kind and so thoughtful. … She and Jill were the heart of the exhibit and they loved every minute. I was lucky to have met Susanne and to call her friend. She was a lovely, brilliant, caring person and we shall all miss her.” 

Read more about Susanne’s life and career as a photographer in her obituary from the New York Times.

LTLA Member Organization Resources

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This page is a list of resources for Loudoun Transmission Line Alliance Member Organization Resources. For more information or if you have any questions, please reach out to the Communications Chair azurfluh@waterfordfoundation.org

  • NIETC Fact Sheet: This fact sheet for LTLA members is designed to help with the writing of comments for the NIETC based on the LTLA statement and common messaging
  • LTLA June Appeal: A copy of the June Appeal letter emailed to members on 5/28
  • Event Supplies Request Form: Use this form to request LTLA flyers, yard signs, and table information for your next event. Please fill out this form at least one week in advance, two weeks if you need a new flyer created.
  • Canvassing Tips and Tricks: This document lists how to canvas for beginners, and some helpful tips in how to go door to door

About the National Interest Electrical Transmission Corridor

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PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE DUE ON JUNE 24 BY 5PM ET. PUBLIC COMMENTS CAN BE SENT TO NIETC@HQ.DOE.GOV.

Map of Potential NIETC Geographic Area in the Mid-Atlantic Region (Department of Energy, 5.8.2024)

On May 8th, the Department of Energy released their preliminary list of potential National Interest Electrical Transmission Corridors around the country. This comes after the completion of their information gathering phase that started in December 2023. Below are answers to common questions about the National Interest Electrical Transmission Corridor designation process, and what you can do:

What is the National Interest Electrical Transmission Corridor Designation: The National Interest Electrical Transmission Corridor (NIETC) is a designation given to geographic areas by the United States Department of Energy. This designation is designed to help the department support growing nationwide transmission line needs by streamlining approval processes in place at the state level. According to the Department of Energy, a NIETC designation allows for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to issue permits for transmission line projects with the designation area under the circumstances that state authorities (in Virginia, the State Corporation Commission) do not have authority to site the line, have not acted on an application for over 1 year, or have denied an application.

Would this impact Loudoun? Yes, Loudoun was included in the Mid-Atlantic region NIETC preliminary list (see map above). A NIETC designation would NextEra Energy to build a new greenfield power corridor within a wide swath of rural Loudoun to support the Mid-Atlantic Resiliency Link project, even if the State Corporation Commission denies construction in Rural Loudoun.

Can you explain why this would be a bad thing? The Loudoun Transmission Line Alliance identified three main reasons of detrimental impact to Loudoun County supported by data collected by Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) and PJM Interconnection:

  • This is not a long-term solution to any issues related to reliability and resilience. All of Mid-Atlantic corridors depend on aging coal fired plants that will not be around for the lifetime of the transmission lines. This is not consistent with the renewable energy policies of the U.S. Government. The proposed western transmission lines within the PJM 2022-RTEP-W3 process has already led to the extension of the life time of two coal plants (Ft. Martin and Harrison) that has been set to retire in 2030. The data centers of Northern Virginia represent the only growing sector of electricity demand that is predicted to double by 2040 when these coal-fired plants will be obsolete.
  • Virginia ratepayers will have to help cover the total cost of $4.9 billion for these inter-regional transmission lines by absorbing the cost into their utility bills. Dominion Energy already anticipates a doubling of consumer bills as a result of the need to build out the infrastructure. Communities pay to build and operate this new infrastructure and suffer the consequences of having these lines disrupt local businesses, property owners, historical landmarks, and the environment. Dominion Energy is also discussing other transmission lines to directly serve new data centers being built in Culpeper, Prince William, Fairfax, and Loudoun counties, which ratepayers will have to pay for as well. PJM’s set of recommended lines will be sent to the Board of Managers for final approval in mid-December. (Source: Piedmont Environmental Council) These lines will not support households- only data centers. It does not appear that this corridor will save anyone in Loudoun money any time soon.
  • It is correct that there is a need to expand access to power. However, as opposed to being the answer to future energy needs, the transmission line projects lock us into an old model reliant on fossil fuels. The project is an extension cord connecting power-hungry data centers to existing energy sources when we need to move into the future. (Source: Piedmont Environmental Council) When the coal-fired plants that are soon to become obsolete go offline, this huge investment in these “extension cords” will be useless, and new solutions will need to be found. There is nothing “clean” about the proposed solutions under consideration by the Department of Energy.

For more information about the potential adverse impact, please visit this webpage set up by the Piedmont Environmental Council. You can also check out our “Just the Facts” flyer linked here!

Map of Potential NIETC Geographic Area in the Mid-Atlantic Environmental Information (Department of Energy, 5.8.2024)

Where does the LTLA stand on this proposal? The LTLA disapproves of the decision to include Loudoun in the NIETC designation. While we understand the need for power in a growing area such as Loudoun and Northern Virginia, we do not believe it should come at the expense of the community, local businesses, agriculture, conservation, and preservation. Denoting any part of Loudoun a National Interest Electrical Transmission Corridor would meet the power needs of a few while endangering the future of an entire region.

What can I do? The Department of Energy are accepting and asking for public comments on the geographic boundaries of the moving forward designations considerations until June 24, 2024 at 5:00PM ET. Public comments can be sent to NIETC@hq.doe.gov.

Please send in comments about why Loudoun would be a bad candidate to be included in a National Interest Electrical Transmission Corridor. Public input is very important in this process to help determine national needs. Specifically, the DOE is asking the public to submit comments on:

  • Transmission needs within the potential NIETCs and associated consumer harm
  • The geographic boundaries of the potential NIETCs
  • Potential impacts on environmental, community, and other resources within the potential NIETCs

Check out the graphic below to help brainstorm what you should include!

For More Information:

2023 Annual Awardees

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Eagle Scout Recognition

The awards portion of the evening kicked off with our Eagle Scout Recognition of Jonathan Jovene for his Second Street School fence work.  Jonathan cleared the brush and re-installed fence posts in the schoolyard and make the fence sound again! Thank you, Jonathan! 

Strategic Partners

We were so pleased to see the Mill re-stabilization project come to a successful and on-time completion at the end of July last year. The Mill has never looked better, and we are looking forward to expanded use of the building in the days to come. The construction phase of this project was the culmination of over 10 years of work to secure funding, to study the building and produce a historic structure report, and to plan and execute a restoration project that would stabilize the building for the future. Our 2023 special recognition award(s) recognizes the members of the team who worked to make this treasured building safe for many years to come.  Loudoun County Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure has managed the project from the beginning and through the design and construction phases. Glave and Holmes Architects served as project architects through the design and construction phases. As contractor, Carpenter Beach Construction managed the carpenters, masons, and other tradespeople who worked to stabilize and rehabilitate the historic structure. Finally, Arbor Ridge Builders reproduced the massive timber-framed Hurst frame, the most significant structural artifact of the circa 1818 mill. Thank you to everyone involved in this huge and important project! 

Community Partners

We would not be the great organization we are today without some great community partners.  An important part of preserving the Landmark is conserving the bountiful open spaces that help tell Waterford’s agricultural and industrial story. The connection between the historic and natural fabrics of Waterford can easily be seen out on the Schooley Mill Meadow.

Balls Run, a tributary of Catoctin Creek runs through the property. As erosion has happened naturally along the bank, the need for a riparian buffer was made clear. Thanks to our Community Partners of 2023 – the Loudoun County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Piedmont Environmental Council – 600 trees were planted on both sides of the Catoctin to make up the new riparian buffer at no cost. Now the creek bank will be protected for many years to come. We thank you for your important contribution to our preservation and conservation mission, and look forward to seeing your important work continue in Loudoun County.

Volunteer of the Year

Everyone should have someone to call when you’re in a pinch right before a big event. Say, for example, that you are days away from your biggest educational outreach event and fundraiser, and you find out that the only toilet in a critical building is out of order. Or that the pilot program of your brand new field trip is two days away in November and the heat goes out in a critical building. Who would you call? We’re so grateful that we have Jeff Bean’s number, who has helped us solve so many problems in the past year and beyond. When we discovered that the Mill toilet was not working properly within a few days of the start of the Fair, he understood the urgency of the issue and pulled out all the stops to make sure the toilet was fixed in time for the event. And then just a month later, the heaters at the Second Street School continued to cause problems days before the first group of the Reconstruction program came out. Jeff once again pulled out all the stops, staying until the early hours in the morning to make sure that the seventh graders coming had a comfortable environment to learn in. We can’t thank you enough for all that you have done to keep the Foundation running smoothly Jeff. 

Lifetime Achievement

The Lifetime Achievement Award was established to recognize outstanding contributions to the work of the Waterford Foundation.  This year, we are honoring a man whose dedication and hard work have been the backbone of our Fair’s ticket booth operations for over two decades and who was a major contributor to the Old School restoration project. Hans Hommels, has been the invisible hand ensuring thousands of fairgoers are greeted with a smile, despite the challenges that arise before they even step foot into Waterford. For 25 years, Hans has orchestrated the complex ballet of ticket booth operations, a task that might seem straightforward to the uninitiated but is, in reality, is a huge undertaking. Managing up to four booths, coordinating shifts that stretch from the early morning till the close of day, and training dozens of volunteers each year, Hans has created the first impression of the Fair for countless attendees. After co-chairing with John DeCourcy from 1997 to 2014, Hans took over as chair for 7 more years, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to the Fair and to Waterford. This incredible tenure of service, came to a close in 2022, marking the end of an era. But that’s not all…

In 2007 the Foundation recruited Hans for a job that no one else could have done. Many of us remember watching the fire that destroyed our auditorium and damaged the Old School on that dreadful day in January 2007. The fire was a devastating blow to the Foundation and to the community.  However, from the beginning the determination to restore the classroom building and rebuild the auditorium was strong. Hans agreed to lead the rebuilding effort by chairing the Old School Steering Committee, a group that included Susan Sutter, Walter Music, and Kathleen Hughes. With Hans’s commitment to the village and his years of experience in construction management, he was the ideal candidate for the job. Hans thrives on challenges, and there were many challenges during the five years of the reconstruction project. The committee involved the community in the process. Hans visited village residents to ask for their views and participated in a series of public meetings.  Then Hans and his team interviewed 12 architectural firms. That search led to the hiring of Quinn Evans, a firm with vast experience with historic buildings, as the project architects for both the classroom building and the auditorium. After Loudoun County approvals had been secured, reconstruction of the classroom building began with Corbett Construction in March of 2008. Hans was a constant presence on the site, working with the builder, checking progress daily, and solving problems as they arose, while always insisting on high quality work. Meanwhile Hans and his team members worked with Quinn Evans to create a design for the auditorium that would complement the historic architecture. The design was finalized after more input from the community and approvals from both the Historic District Review Committee and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, which holds an easement on the building.  During this time Hans and his team sent out Requests for Proposals to ten construction firms.  After meeting with the firms that submitted the top five bids, the team recommended Scott Long. Construction began on the auditorium in the summer of 2011.  Again, Hans was on site at the auditorium almost every day, with pages of plans under his arm, checking work as it was installed—carpentry, plumbing, electrical, HVAC. Amazingly, the project came in under budget, a rare achievement. None of this would have happened without the hundreds of hours of pro bono work Hans donated to the Foundation as our in-house Project Manager.  Without his dedication, the Foundation would not have a beautifully restored Old School and a spectacular new auditorium. Please look around you to see his contribution. 

Hans, your legacy is not just in the smooth operation of ticket sales or the countless hours you’ve dedicated to the Old School. It’s in the community you’ve helped build, the volunteers you’ve inspired, and the countless fairgoers and Old School event attendees whose experiences you’ve enhanced. On behalf of everyone here, and all those who have had the privilege of working with you or being welcomed by you, we say thank you. 

Thank you to Susan Sutter & Bonnie Getty for these kind words.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for such a great evening. We are looking forward to seeing you at all of the fun events coming up in 2024! 

2024 Waterford Foundation Board Updates

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Our Board is made up of some extraordinary people.  Unfortunately, we only get our members for a short time before they must rotate off for a while.  Ann Goode returned to the Waterford Foundation Board in 2018, bringing her wealth of experience and expertise in planning and land use issues. Having previously served on the Board as well as a member of the Waterford Foundation staff, her deep institutional knowledge has been an asset to the Foundation for the past six years. Ann has been a strong supporter of the formation and subsequent reorganization of the Preservation Committee, serving as chair of the Committee as well as its Open Lands Subcommittee while also serving as Vice President of the Board. Ann’s expertise and steadfast leadership has enabled the Foundation to make great strides in advancing its preservation mission. We will miss her voice on the Board, but we look forward to her continued active involvement on the Preservation Committee. Thank you, Annie!

We are excited to welcome 3 new Board members this year.  Nancy Iarossi, Susan Hill & Carl Scheider were voted onto the Board at the annual meeting.  Each of them brings important experience in various fields that will greatly contribute to our Board and mission. 

Finally, the Board appointed the Executive committee to serve this year! Susan Manch will continue as President, Chris Wood has taken over as Vice President, Chris Doxey has taken over as Treasurer and Sharyn Franck is serving as our Secretary! 

Learn more about all of our great Board members here: https://www.waterfordfoundation.org/meet-the-board/

2024 Annual Meeting Recap (FY2023)

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We gathered at the Waterford Old School on Tuesday, April 16th for our Annual meeting. It was a wonderful celebration of 2023’s successes, the 40th anniversary of the Second Street School Living History Program, and our esteemed awardees. We shared an interesting presentation on easements and the meeting was finished with new board member voting and executive committee appointments.  

2023 Annual Awardees:

Eagle Scout Recognition

The awards portion of the evening kicked off with our Eagle Scout Recognition of Jonathan Jovene for his Second Street School fence work.  Jonathan cleared the brush and re-installed fence posts in the schoolyard and make the fence sound again! Thank you, Jonathan! 

Strategic Partners

We were so pleased to see the Mill re-stabilization project come to a successful and on-time completion at the end of July last year. The Mill has never looked better, and we are looking forward to expanded use of the building in the days to come. The construction phase of this project was the culmination of over 10 years of work to secure funding, to study the building and produce a historic structure report, and to plan and execute a restoration project that would stabilize the building for the future. Our 2023 special recognition award(s) recognizes the members of the team who worked to make this treasured building safe for many years to come.  Loudoun County Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure has managed the project from the beginning and through the design and construction phases. Glave and Holmes Architects served as project architects through the design and construction phases. As contractor, Carpenter Beach Construction managed the carpenters, masons, and other tradespeople who worked to stabilize and rehabilitate the historic structure. Finally, Arbor Ridge Builders reproduced the massive timber-framed Hurst frame, the most significant structural artifact of the circa 1818 mill. Thank you to everyone involved in this huge and important project! 

Community Partners

We would not be the great organization we are today without some great community partners.  An important part of preserving the Landmark is conserving the bountiful open spaces that help tell Waterford’s agricultural and industrial story. The connection between the historic and natural fabrics of Waterford can easily be seen out on the Schooley Mill Meadow.

Balls Run, a tributary of Catoctin Creek runs through the property. As erosion has happened naturally along the bank, the need for a riparian buffer was made clear. Thanks to our Community Partners of 2023 – the Loudoun County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Piedmont Environmental Council – 600 trees were planted on both sides of the Catoctin to make up the new riparian buffer at no cost. Now the creek bank will be protected for many years to come. We thank you for your important contribution to our preservation and conservation mission, and look forward to seeing your important work continue in Loudoun County.

Volunteer of the Year

Everyone should have someone to call when you’re in a pinch right before a big event. Say, for example, that you are days away from your biggest educational outreach event and fundraiser, and you find out that the only toilet in a critical building is out of order. Or that the pilot program of your brand new field trip is two days away in November and the heat goes out in a critical building. Who would you call? We’re so grateful that we have Jeff Bean’s number, who has helped us solve so many problems in the past year and beyond. When we discovered that the Mill toilet was not working properly within a few days of the start of the Fair, he understood the urgency of the issue and pulled out all the stops to make sure the toilet was fixed in time for the event. And then just a month later, the heaters at the Second Street School continued to cause problems days before the first group of the Reconstruction program came out. Jeff once again pulled out all the stops, staying until the early hours in the morning to make sure that the seventh graders coming had a comfortable environment to learn in. We can’t thank you enough for all that you have done to keep the Foundation running smoothly Jeff. 

Lifetime Achievement

The Lifetime Achievement Award was established to recognize outstanding contributions to the work of the Waterford Foundation.  This year, we are honoring a man whose dedication and hard work have been the backbone of our Fair’s ticket booth operations for over two decades and who was a major contributor to the Old School restoration project. Hans Hommels, has been the invisible hand ensuring thousands of fairgoers are greeted with a smile, despite the challenges that arise before they even step foot into Waterford. For 25 years, Hans has orchestrated the complex ballet of ticket booth operations, a task that might seem straightforward to the uninitiated but is, in reality, is a huge undertaking. Managing up to four booths, coordinating shifts that stretch from the early morning till the close of day, and training dozens of volunteers each year, Hans has created the first impression of the Fair for countless attendees. After co-chairing with John DeCourcy from 1997 to 2014, Hans took over as chair for 7 more years, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to the Fair and to Waterford. This incredible tenure of service, came to a close in 2022, marking the end of an era. But that’s not all…

In 2007 the Foundation recruited Hans for a job that no one else could have done. Many of us remember watching the fire that destroyed our auditorium and damaged the Old School on that dreadful day in January 2007. The fire was a devastating blow to the Foundation and to the community.  However, from the beginning the determination to restore the classroom building and rebuild the auditorium was strong. Hans agreed to lead the rebuilding effort by chairing the Old School Steering Committee, a group that included Susan Sutter, Walter Music, and Kathleen Hughes. With Hans’s commitment to the village and his years of experience in construction management, he was the ideal candidate for the job. Hans thrives on challenges, and there were many challenges during the five years of the reconstruction project. The committee involved the community in the process. Hans visited village residents to ask for their views and participated in a series of public meetings.  Then Hans and his team interviewed 12 architectural firms. That search led to the hiring of Quinn Evans, a firm with vast experience with historic buildings, as the project architects for both the classroom building and the auditorium. After Loudoun County approvals had been secured, reconstruction of the classroom building began with Corbett Construction in March of 2008. Hans was a constant presence on the site, working with the builder, checking progress daily, and solving problems as they arose, while always insisting on high quality work. Meanwhile Hans and his team members worked with Quinn Evans to create a design for the auditorium that would complement the historic architecture. The design was finalized after more input from the community and approvals from both the Historic District Review Committee and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, which holds an easement on the building.  During this time Hans and his team sent out Requests for Proposals to ten construction firms.  After meeting with the firms that submitted the top five bids, the team recommended Scott Long. Construction began on the auditorium in the summer of 2011.  Again, Hans was on site at the auditorium almost every day, with pages of plans under his arm, checking work as it was installed—carpentry, plumbing, electrical, HVAC. Amazingly, the project came in under budget, a rare achievement. None of this would have happened without the hundreds of hours of pro bono work Hans donated to the Foundation as our in-house Project Manager.  Without his dedication, the Foundation would not have a beautifully restored Old School and a spectacular new auditorium. Please look around you to see his contribution. 

Hans, your legacy is not just in the smooth operation of ticket sales or the countless hours you’ve dedicated to the Old School. It’s in the community you’ve helped build, the volunteers you’ve inspired, and the countless fairgoers and Old School event attendees whose experiences you’ve enhanced. On behalf of everyone here, and all those who have had the privilege of working with you or being welcomed by you, we say thank you. 

Thank you to Susan Sutter & Bonnie Getty for these kind words.

Board Member Vote / Executive Committee Appointment 

Our Board is made up of some extraordinary people.  Unfortunately, we only get our members for a short time before they must rotate off for a while.  Ann Goode returned to the Waterford Foundation Board in 2018, bringing her wealth of experience and expertise in planning and land use issues. Having previously served on the Board as well as a member of the Waterford Foundation staff, her deep institutional knowledge has been an asset to the Foundation for the past six years. Ann has been a strong supporter of the formation and subsequent reorganization of the Preservation Committee, serving as chair of the Committee as well as its Open Lands Subcommittee while also serving as Vice President of the Board. Ann’s expertise and steadfast leadership has enabled the Foundation to make great strides in advancing its preservation mission. We will miss her voice on the Board, but we look forward to her continued active involvement on the Preservation Committee. Thank you, Annie!

We are excited to welcome 3 new Board members this year.  Nancy Iarossi, Susan Hill & Carl Scheider were voted onto the Board at the annual meeting.  Each of them brings important experience in various fields that will greatly contribute to our Board and mission.  Learn more about them and all of our great Board members here https://www.waterfordfoundation.org/meet-the-board/

Finally, the Board appointed the Executive committee to serve this year! Susan Manch will continue as President, Chris Wood has taken over as Vice President, Chris Doxey has taken over as Treasurer and Sharyn Franck is serving as our Secretary! 

Thank you to everyone who joined us for such a great evening. We are looking forward to seeing you at all of the fun events coming up in 2024! 

Please find the 2023 Annual Report here: https://www.waterfordfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2024-Annual-Report-web.pdf

About the Alliance

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In January 2024, representatives from Loudoun nonprofit organizations, community and neighborhood associations, business organizations and other interested parties gathered at the Old School in Waterford, Virginia to coordinate efforts to oppose the proposed greenfield transmission lines of the Mid-Atlantic Resiliency Link contract awarded to NextEra Energy by PJM Interconnection. Instead, the Alliance believes that all transmission lines should be built in existing power corridors The members of the alliance developed and agreed to the following Declaration to clarify their common purpose (link to PDF Version)–

Sign the Declaration by the Loudoun Transmission Line Alliance on the NextEra MARL Proposal using this link!

Declaration by the Loudoun Transmission Line Alliance on the NextEra MARL Proposal:

We, the undersigned stakeholders, representing business, preservation, agricultural, environmental, and community organizations in Loudoun County, Virginia, call upon NextEra Energy to avoid building a new power corridor through rural Loudoun County, in view of the negative impact of such construction on the agricultural community, local economy, heritage and natural resources, and residents of the region. 

We strenuously oppose construction of new “greenfield” lines in rural areas of the County.  All new transmission lines should be located within existing power corridors – which we understand would be acceptable to PJM.

  • We also request that NextEra utilize existing rights of way and alternative methods, such as advanced conductors and the use of underground lines in highly populated areas, in order to meet the power needs of Loudoun’s data center industry.

As currently configured, the proposed route will cause major collateral damage to existing local businesses, notably in the agricultural and tourism sectors, as well as to residential valuations.  Power corridors must be sited to minimize the impact on existing businesses, including those dependent on intact open landscapes.

  • Loudoun County remains a thriving agricultural region, with 1,332 farms accounting for $50 million in sales in 2022 alone. Moreover, Loudoun’s thriving equine industry has an annual economic impact of $180 million.
  • The proposed lines also threaten Loudoun’s $4 billion tourism industry, including $400+ million in agritourism alone.  Surveys show that the County’s landscapes, farms, wineries, breweries, and historic sites are a major draw for visitors.
  • NextEra must account for its damage to these vital sectors of the economy. 

Historic and environmental sites, including landscapes, define the distinctive heritage of Loudoun County.  In no instance should power corridors transit through or near National Historic Landmarks, historic districts, and other properties under conservation or preservation easements.

  • Loudoun boasts six National Historic Landmarks, seven county historic districts, and 4,426 easements that safeguard important environmental and historic sites.
  • Conservation and historic preservation easements are legal deed restrictions that in Loudoun, are very site-specific and hence cannot be exchanged for uneased property.  Easement holders will vigorously defend these protections as any plan ignoring these protections will undermine the sanctity of easements state-wide.
  • A noteworthy example of local, state, and federal historic and environmental protections at risk is the Waterford National Historic Landmark.  Waterford’s 1,420 acres are a rare instance of a fully intact 19th century community with scores of protected historic properties, agricultural land, natural habitats, and open spaces.
  • New transmission corridors in rural Loudoun would directly threaten a number of eased sites, as well as prime farmland, waterways, habitats, open spaces, and historic properties.

For NextEra, this is a commercial decision, but for Loudoun it’s existential.  We call for no new power corridors in rural Loudoun!

See who all have signed the Declaration here! This Declaration is a living document, and signers are consistently updated. Please consider signing on to support our stance!

Who do I contact in the Loudoun Transmission Line Alliance?

Our communications and outreach team can be reached out transmissionlines@waterfordfoundation.org. You can also find them during Foundation office hours from 10am-2pm Tuesday-Friday at 40222 Fairfax Street, Waterford VA 20197, around the county during travelling office hours, or available for appointments.

Abigail Zurfluh- Communications Chair

Abigail is also the Historic Preservation Director for the Waterford Foundation. She has been involved with the Alliance since the beginning meetings at the Waterford Old School. She has a degree in historic preservation and geography from the University of Mary Washington. In her free time, she loves to explore all of what Loudoun County has to offer, playing games (especially board games, card games, or trivia) with friends and family, and line dancing. Her favorite part about Rural Loudoun is the balance of the built and natural environments achieved through historic preservation and environmental conservation.

Alexander Newton- Field Operations Director

Alex joined the communication and outreach team as the Field Operations Director in June 2024. After graduating with a Master’s Degree in History Education from Virginia Tech, he moved back to Loudoun and started teaching at John Champe High School. In his free time, Alex enjoys visiting local businesses, painting miniatures, reading historical nonfiction, and wildlife photography. His favorite part of Rural Loudoun is the local community he is a part of. He loves participating in local events like Oktoberfest in Lovettsville and the Waterford Fair.

Poison Hemlock Treatments

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Project Completion Date: Ongoing

The presence of poison hemlock has been confirmed on approximately 11-acres of the Phillips Farm. This invasive plant is quite toxic, and while it has been present in the US since the 1800s, distribution of the plant has increased significantly in the past decade. Learn more about poison hemlock on the fact sheet at the bottom of this article.

The Phillips Farm Subcommittee (now Open Spaces Subcommittee) mapped the presence of plants that were visible in spring 2022 and locations confirmed by the Loudoun County Extension Service. These are the same locations for treatment in 2023 and 2024.

To manage this difficult invasive plant, the Waterford Foundation has retained NatureWorks (previously Sustainable Solutions) to initiate applications of an herbicide, approved by EPA for application in and around aquatic environments to the affected areas. Treatments in 2022 and 2023 made a significant impact in the distribution of the hemlock on the Farm; however, further treatment will be needed for the next several years to fully control the invasive poison hemlock.

While the Foundation has rarely used herbicides on the Farm, the approved management plan for the Phillips Farm permits the use of herbicides when absolutely necessary. Out of concern for public health and for the potential for poison hemlock to continue to spread, the Foundation elected to utilize herbicide as part of an integrated approach to invasives management that will also include mowing and cutting of flower heads before they seed and promoting the establishment of native plant species.