By Eric Spiegel
For PotomacLocal.com
Lorton, Va. –– The Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Supervisor Gerry Hyland hosted the third of three informational sessions on Thursday night regarding the county’s plan to purchase a waste-to-energy facility in Lorton, currently owned and operated by energy company Covanta.
A mixture of county residents, members of the county’s public works department and representatives from Covanta attended the session. The meeting was held to share information about the waste-to-energy facility; how it works, its contractual and financial workings with the county, and the county’s purchase proposal.
More to the Story: Fairfax County has leased the facility to Covanta for 30 years.
“It is a core function of a government to manage the trash,” Hyland said. “Purchasing this waste-to-energy plant would allow Fairfax County to have more control over its waste management than before.”
Following Hyland was a presentation by Charlie Forbes, the Assistant Director for the Division of Solid Waste Disposal and Resource Recovery. As he explained, the facility burns solid waste to create steam from boilers that rotate turbines that generate electricity. That generated electricity is sold back to Dominion Virginia Power with a portion of that money returning to the county.
The presentation then focused on the research done by both the county staff and various consulting groups to project the cost of three options that the county has for the facility: do nothing and let the current lease expire, continue to rent the facility, or to purchase the facility. Officials say the county’s best option, over time, is to purchase the facility.
After the presentation was a Question and Answer session, where a variety of questions and concerns were raised. Of these were questions requesting to clarify details of the cost and how it was calculated; whether Covanta is the best company to run the facility and what would happen if another company ran the facility; and any potentially detrimental effects for the surrounding Lorton.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will next hold a public hearing to consider the purchase option for the waste-to-energy facility. This meeting will be held on February 22 at the Government Center.
Recent Stories
After months of construction delays and missed opening dates, Signal Bay Waterpark will finally welcome the public back today, Friday, July 25, for a long-awaited soft reopening — and admission is completely free on Friday.
A fire broke out Friday afternoon at the LIDL grocery store on Liberia Avenue near Prince William Parkway, just outside the City of Manassas.
he Oak Valley Homeowners Association is sharply criticizing a Virginia Court of Appeals decision that upholds the Prince William Board of County Supervisors’ approval of a controversial land use amendment—despite what residents say was a deliberate disregard for public input.
Governor Glenn Youngkin announced today that the U.S. Department of Education has determined that Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) is among five Northern Virginia school divisions found to be in violation of Title IX, a federal civil rights law, due to policies allowing students to access restrooms and participate in sports based on gender identity.
The ArtsFairfax Events Calendar is your destination for all arts and culture activities in Northern Virginia. Find a concert, play, poetry reading, or exhibition in your neighborhood—many events are free and family-friendly!
Are you part of a performing arts group, school, or cultural organization? You can add your events and classes, too. The ArtsFairfax Events Calendar is free and easy to use.
Your attendance at local arts events supports small businesses in our community and the art makers who help make Fairfax and its surrounding region so vibrant. With the ArtsFairfax Events Calendar, you can stay curious and stay local to plan your next arts adventure!
Go Ape, America’s leading aerial adventure park provider, is proud to unveil a revitalized experience across its iconic Zipline & Adventure Parks. This refresh goes beyond physical upgrades; it reflects a renewed mission to foster meaningful connections between people, nature, and self.
“Go Ape has always been about thrilling treetop adventures,” says Chrissy Very, Senior Director of Marketing. “Now, we’re redefining what it means to truly connect: through purpose-driven outdoor experiences that inspire courage, reflection, and joy.”
As access to public outdoor spaces becomes more limited, Go Ape steps in to bridge the gap with immersive, inclusive, and wellness-focused adventures for individuals, families, and groups.
Christmas in July
Volunteer Prince William will be holding a fun-filled Christmas in July event at Heritage Brewing Co on July 26th from 12pm until 6pm with all proceeds going to support the 2025 Untrim-A-Tree and Senior Basket Program. Untrim-A-Tree and Senior Basket
Van Metre 5K Run
Participate in the 33rd Annual Van Metre 5K Run—a race that goes further than 3.1 miles, where every stride you take supports Children’s National Hospital. The Van Metre 5K Run donates 100% of proceeds to Children’s National Hospital and has
