Category Archives: editorial

Richmond Solar Deal: Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater

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An editorial with the standard disclaimer: the views expressed do not necessarily represent those of all Oregon Hill residents.

The phrase ‘Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater’ is a very old fashioned and awkward idiom. It dates back to at least 1500’s Germany with the proverb, das Kind mit dem Bade ausschütten. It’s essentially a warning to avoid an error in which one eliminates something good or of value while trying to get rid of something unwanted.

In this case, ‘the baby’ is a proposal to add solar panels to up to 39 buildings in downtown Richmond with the help of company called Secure Solar Futures. And Richmond’s ‘bathwater’, let’s face it, is very murky.

This past week, citizen watchdogs and Council members rightly zero’ed in on questions about rushed timing and perceived risks of the deal. Despite a strong showing of support by environmental activists at their meeting, City Council voted down the proposal and there’s been a lot of conjecture and hand wringing ever since. Honestly, the City’s Department of Sustainability is known more for its overpaid director position than pushing real environmental change. Citizens want code changes but instead get weak corporate promises. Of course, rather than picking on one department, let’s just say the whole City government can be cast in a similar light. It has a long history of not maintaining public infrastructure while handing out corporate welfare, all while shamefully holding back on transparency. More recently, a quick investigation of the deal revealed a possible conflict of interest with a City Department of Sustainability employee. Even the mayor did a reversal, and abandoned his support for the deal. In short, to citizens’ non-surprise, the City totally flubbed it.

Even with all of this, ‘the baby’, the solar deal, should be saved. Critics are incredulous, but this ‘baby’ is special and is vital for Richmond’s future.

First, it’s important to recognize that continued reliance on fossil fuels puts the City at risk environmentally and economically. Richmond faces rising average temperatures and longer, more intense heat waves, with days above 95°F projected to surge significantly by 2050. Combustion emissions drive global climate changes that increase heavy downpours and flood risks across the James River watershed. Methane leaks from public utility infrastructure—such as those tracked across the Richmond service region—trap massive amounts of heat and present severe localized fire hazards. Fuel emissions contribute to worsening short-term particle pollution (soot) in the Richmond metropolitan area, threatening vulnerable groups like children and seniors with asthma or heart disease. Richmond is still infamous as ‘the national asthma capital’.

Of course, rising fuel prices along with high rates of lost gas place heavy financial burdens on local ratepayers and strain city resources. The city negotiates its electricity through the Virginia Energy Purchasing Governmental Association (VEPGA). Under recent contracts heavily dictated by regional power production (ie. Dominion), municipal electricity rates jumped by roughly 25%, with an additional 12% increase expected. Richmond spent over $18 million on municipal electricity in a single fiscal year.

Solar to the rescue

The best time to install solar was yesterday. It is has become known worldwide as the cheapest, cleanest way to produce energy. The reality is that Richmond was founded on renewable energy. The James River’s current and hydro power at the falls was used for mills and gins and population settled around these industries. Sadly the City long ago eschewed that legacy, giving in to corporate utility and monopoly. Dominion has a business model that is based on centralized production and managed grid distribution, while renewable energy, especially solar, challenges that business model, as it can be produced, distributed, and stored independently of the grid. It’s important that Richmond return to its renewable energy roots. Yes, Richmond needs this deal, this ‘baby’, to do that.

So what critics say, we can still be for solar but against this particular deal. They say that there will be ‘other, less ugly babies’ to consider. But they are wrong.

Side note: There is an unmistakable parallel between the solar deal’s exposed, possible conflict of interest within the Sustainability Department and the Planning Department’s developer cronies enriching themselves off of the proposed Code Refresh project while pretending its about affordable housing. But it is a mistake to lump the solar deal in with the terrible Code Refresh – The solar deal’s presentation sucked, the solar deal did appear rushed, and there is possible appearance of corruption, but that does not mean this solar deal has actually been corrupted or that the deal is not a good one for the City.

For one thing- say anything you want about City government, but Secure Solar Futures has a strong reputation as a reliable, community-focused solar developer for institutions, local governments, and schools across Virginia. They frequently win municipal and school district contracts through standard competitive bidding processes. They prioritize long-term logistical, financial, and workforce training commitments over “fly-in, fly-out” contracting. They have extensive experience working with localities throughout Virginia, including acting as a technical resource partner for regional initiatives like the Coalfield Solar Fund. In other words, they deserve more trust than City Hall and Dominion combined. Recently, the Town of Blacksburg contracted with Secure Solar Futures to complete construction of a 866.71-kilowatt solar power system on its transit facility. That system is being completed at no upfront cost to the Town of Blacksburg through a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Secure Solar Futures. Sound familiar?

If the terms of the deal are not quite as sweet as those of other solar deals that Secure Solar Futures has done with other Virginia entities, keep in mind that City of Richmond does not exactly have a stellar reputation as a partner. Exhibit number one: the current fracas about the development around the new Diamond baseball stadium, with lawsuits flying. (More than a few citizens are not backing their own City government or the Flying Squirrels organization, but rooting for Team Topolina). Yet Secure Solar Futures has still been willing to listen to concerns and tweak the deal’s details in some places.

Furthermore, recognize that there is only one solar deal, ‘this baby’, on the table. While it would be lovely to find new deals and bring in things like net metering, the City is restricted by state and utility rules. Furthermore, frankly, the City has neither the financing or solar expertise/ability to pull this off independently. Like it or not, Secure Solar Futures is the only game in town, at least right for now…

…And that brings us to the urgency…from the federal level…The Trump administration’s aggressive policy shifts, executive orders, and legislative rollbacks—such as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act have heavily stalled federal approvals, terminated key tax credits, and frozen authorizations for major renewable developments, directly threatening existing and planned solar power purchase agreements (PPAs) nationwide. Action by President Donald Trump’s administration to revoke or alter clean energy tax credits created an urgent deadline for ordering equipment to keep municipal solar proposals financially viable. In other words, there is a deadline approaching. If Richmond does not get a solar deal done soon, when will it be possible again? When Trump is out of power? When the Democrats act to put tax credits back in place? How many years will these things take?

Also, not to be forgotten, the City’s long reliance on dirty, increasingly expensive fossil fuels with centralized production and antique grid distribution not only makes the City backward and dirty, it also endangers it and makes it very vulnerable. In January 2025 the City water utility broke down due to faulty infrastructure, including an unreliable backup generator plan, resulting very close to catastrophe for the greater Richmond area. The City must modernize its energy infrastructure, including more reliable renewable energy sources, before the next disaster hits.

We need more citizens to tell City Council, yes, the City administration’s incompetence is well recognized, but don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater!

A Plea To Local Non-Profits: Ditch CodeRefresh Before It Is Too Late!

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On the eve of ‘Richmond Habitat’s Framing the Future Gala’ at the Altria Theater this Saturday evening (sponsored by Co-star of course), I would like to make this direct plea to its board and the boards of other local non-profits: Ditch the City Code ReFresh plan before it is too late!

Code Refresh is a scam for developers that is being forced on Richmond citizens. It will not help affordable housing, it will raise taxes and displace more poorer, long term residents. We have already seen CodeReFresh backtrack on some of its promises for affordable housing- trust me, in the end, the planners will backtrack more to gain favor with their developer buddies.

Furthermore, if it is rammed through City Council, despite almost 70 percent of Richmond’s citizens being against it, it could spell the end for Oregon Hill and other City neighborhoods.

Oregon Hill, which historically became one of Richmond’s most dense neighborhoods, has fought hard for decades for historical preservation and its environment, despite continued pressure and encroachment. Notably, it has also embraced truly affordable housing decades ago and still provides ‘starter homes’ for young families. Don’t ruin it by giving developers (and, behind the scenes, VCU), free rein.

Also to the local Sierra Club: Code ReFresh will incentivize more demolition and take away green space, creating real environmental disasters. If you think storm water runoff is a problem now, wait until Oregon Hill plots are zoned with only a 5% vegetative space requirement. Expect more highly questionable excuses to bring down more mature trees. It’s truly a ‘taxes up, trees down’ situation that deserves rebuke, not coddling.

There are alternatives to this that need to come forward, free of corporate developers’ ambitions. Send a strong message that supports affordable housing that does NOT give into CodeRefresh’s bad planning and allow it to use your good name, with your hard work, in support of such disaster.

Oregon Hill Murder Still Unresolved; Alleged Shooter Still Not In Custody

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At last night’s Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association (OHNA) meeting, neighbors listened carefully to a presentation by a representative of the Richmond Police.

When he was asked about the June 30th shooting and murder on the 100 block of S.Pine Street, he said it was not in his report because the 100 block of S. Pine is not part of Oregon Hill. Thankfully, neighbors, including the OHNA President, quickly corrected him.

Oregon Hill residents are tired of this continued nonsense.
The ‘Heights’ are ours!

MESSAGE TO CITY AND VCU OFFICIALS (ESPECIALLY CITY PLANNERS WITH CODE REFRESH): To say that the 100 blocks north of the Expressway are not part part of Oregon Hill is ‘fighting words’ – considered not acceptable and will be fully rebuked. If this keeps up, then some sort of retaliation may be in order to make the message stick. Code Refresh is already dead in the water due to the misrepresentation and distrust.

It’s one thing for the Richmond and VCU police to not count all the underage drinking in their crime stats for the neighborhood. It is another to not include violent crime. We are very aware of increased crime due to our proximity to the university.

Furthermore, and it should not be lost in this, the main suspect in the murder is still on the run, as far as citizens know.

From previous Richmond Police Department press release:

Richmond Police Department detectives are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a wanted subject related to last night’s homicide on South Pine Street.

John Pettaway IV, 26, of Chesterfield County, has a warrant on file for Discharging a Firearm in an Occupied Dwelling. He is wanted in relation to the fatal shooting of Charlamon Stokes, 23, of Richmond, in the 100 block of South Pine Street last night.

Pettaway is approximately 5’9” tall and weighs approximately 155 pounds. His photo is attached. Pettaway should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call 911.

Anyone with information about this homicide investigation is asked to call Major Crimes Detective M. Godwin at (804) 317-6922 or call Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000. The P3 Tips Crime Stoppers app for smartphones may also be used. All Crime Stoppers reporting methods are anonymous.

Whose Side Are You On?

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This weekend there was a lot of war movies on cable tv and the Virginia War Memorial had lot of visitors. It is noteworthy that at this point in his second term, President Trump’s administration has attacked 7 different countries and is threatening more. And right now, the global economy is starting to feel ill effects of rising gasoline prices- a result of U.S./Israel’s war against Iran.
(Speaking of Israel, instead of doing more to investigate, expose, and account for what may be the largest and most successful sexual blackmail operation in history, CBS News is now editorializing about how Iran is propagandizing the Epstein files. The reality is that the whole world deserves to know the truth, extent, and ramification. Don’t let the corporate media gaslight you.)

In the midst of all this turmoil, NextEra Energy and (Oregon Hill’s neighbor) Dominion Energy announced a $67 billion all-stock merger to create the world’s largest regulated electric utility, serving about 10 million customers across Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Driven by surging AI and data center power demands, the transaction requires extensive state and federal regulatory approval and is expected to close in 12 to 18 months. The combined company will operate under the NextEra Energy name and trade under the symbol NEE on the New York Stock Exchange. It will have dual headquarters in Juno Beach, Florida, and Richmond, Virginia, as well as Dominion Energy South Carolina’s existing operational headquarters in Cayce, South Carolina. Dominion Energy’s utility companies will continue to operate as Dominion Energy Virginia, Dominion Energy North Carolina, and Dominion Energy South Carolina.

The local media focused on what this merger might mean for Richmond. Dominion employs 5,433 people in the Richmond area according to the most recent statistics. A press release said that Dominion’s local charity work will continue, and Dominion will commit an extra $10 million a year to its charitable efforts for five years after the deal closes within its current operating footprint. Center Stage theater patrons breathe a sigh of relief.

State media also took stock of things. Earlier this month, Dominion asked Virginia’s state government for permission to finance an expected $21.79 monthly jump in the average consumer bill next year. Keep in mind that Virginia remains one of only four states that allow unlimited corporate campaign contributions. NextEra, with a history in Florida, is known for a lot of political subterfuge tied to its corporate spending. Cardinal News opined, “This moment is bigger than a merger. It is about whether Virginia’s energy future will be governed by public accountability or unchecked monopoly power.”

Despite all the speculation, this giant utility merger should be seen within an even larger question about our political/energy future. Writer Jonathan Watts did a good job of framing this question in a recent piece, “The American epoch of oil is collapsing. What comes next could be ugly”, in the British Guardian newspaper.

History has proven that when the dominant form of energy changes, there is often a shift in the global pecking order. We are now in the midst of one such transition as the epoch of petrol, predominantly produced in the United States, Russia and Gulf states, starts to give way to an era of renewables, overwhelmingly manufactured in China. But the outcome remains contested, and the process could be ugly. The new energy order is winning the economic and technological battle – wind turbines and solar panels were already producing record-cheap electricity even before the Iran war pushed up the costs of gas and oil-fired power plants. But the old petro-interests still have political, military and financial might on their side, and they are using that to try to turn back the energy clock.

As a result, democracies across the planet are now threatened by what might be called fossil fuel fascism – an extremist political movement that breaks laws, spreads lies and threatens violence in an increasingly desperate attempt to maintain markets for oil, gas and coal that would otherwise be replaced by cheaper renewables.

Of course, there’s much more in the piece about how the world arrived at this moment, but Watts, in the end, further delineates a dichotomy:

On one side are the vast majority of the world’s people, all of nature, 99.9% of climate scientists and the fastest-growing, greatest-job-creating chunk of the global economy: the clean energy sector.

On the other is Trump and the primary producers and users of fossil fuels, who need enormous taxpayer subsidies to stay profitable and ever greater violence to quell public unease and global opposition. The latter controls the US state – including the military and ICE – and is allied with much of the money of Silicon Valley’s power-thirsty datacentre companies. (The US and its tech oligarchs may be hoping that AI can replace energy as the country’s source of global power – but China is keeping apace on that front, too.)

Will this fossil fuel fascism, that billionaire-backed campaign to crush a green transition by any means necessary, hold back the tide of clean energy autonomy? It cannot be ruled out. The closest thing the world has to a planetary spokesperson recently warned of the dark forces threatening the future of all life on Earth: “Some fossil fuel interests remain hellbent on slowing progress, spreading disinformation, pretending the transition is unrealistic or unaffordable,” Guterres, the UN secretary-general, said last month. “Let’s tell it like it is; the world’s addiction to fossil fuels is one of the greatest threats to global stability and prosperity.”

So as this Memorial Day comes to an end, this editorial asks whose side you, dear reader, are on? That of growing and concentrated corporatism (aka fossil fuel fascism), or distributed, (small d) democratic, renewable energy?

What Is More Important? Schools, Water Utility, Or Homeless Shelter? Welcome to Richmond’s Ranked Choice Voting Day!

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Hi everyone! January 23rd is traditionally recognized as Ranked Choice Voting Day!

Of course, here in Richmond, VA, that does not mean too much as the political establishment is still squashing Ranked Choice Voting (RCV), despite encouragement for it.

But, hey, don’t let the General Assembly, City Council, and winter doldrums get you down. For it is I, Scott Burger, the pirate king of Oregon Hill, here to entertain you and (counterintuitively to my monarchial rule) encourage grassroots democracy with yet another exciting public RCV poll.

Given yesterday’s RPS announcement, the noteworthy recent anniversary of last year’s water crisis, and ongoing struggles for the ‘unhoused’, what is more important?

1) Fully funding our public schools

2) A reliable, working, public water utility

3) larger homeless shelters

Now, I could add as choices a sustainable environment and larger rainy (sleety? snowy) day emergency fund, but let’s not get too crazy or hopeful. Let’s keep it relatively simple. This is not a mayor’s race.

After all, we are supposed to be beginning a new City budget process…

Remember, with ranked choice voting (RCV), you are allowed to vote for more than one choice, but you need to rank them.

Also remember that the political establishment (and their corporate masters) will not allow an all-of-the-above choice as it wants large corporations and tourism to get a steady stream of taxpayer dollars in the form of tax breaks and subsidies. LIVE Nation and New Market Corporation were not going to build their new riverfront amphitheater by themselves (or were they?). Co-Star was not going to incentivize itself, now was it? Otherwise VCU might not have received their money. The corporate welfare must continue, according to our current leadership, opportunity costs, public choices, and alternatives be damned.

Remember what I said about keeping the pressure on!

Happy Ranked Choice Voting Day!

Ready? Vote:

I will try to update this post with results later, if I am not thrown into the new ICE facility in Hanover. (Remember, ICE received “only” $14 billion in funding, despite public demands to abolish it altogether. But that goes back to national priorities…)

#MeToo Revolt 2: Epstein Files

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This is not an easy editorial to write so close to the holidays, but it is a substantial and necessary follow up to an earlier one. The disclaimer that this does not portend to represent the views of all Oregon Hill residents is in full effect.

In 2018, the country, and indeed the world, was still feeling the reverberations of the powerful #MeToo movement. This community news site, in a strongly worded editorial, cheered it on, despite the political winds, and called for stronger investigations and prosecutions of Trump’s sexual assaults, among others.

But this was before things became even more dark and twisted with the headlines of Epstein’s arrest and “suicide” (no, it was most likely not a suicide).

Today, at this time, it is extremely important to recognize some things:

Many of Epstein’s victims went to the police and FBI years ago, and in some cases, even over a decade ago. They named names (yes, including Trump).
Horribly, and shamefully, the system protected Epstein and other predators.

It’s continuing to do so now. No predators should be ‘redacted’! EXPOSE THEM ALL!

In addition to that call, there is another aspect of the Epstein papers that the corporate, mainstream media is ignoring. The American people, and indeed everyone around the world, should see what was probably the biggest and most successful sexual blackmail operation in the history of espionage.

It’s past time for the political establishment, centrists and statists all around, to admit that Epstein did not act alone. Americans deserve to know that Epstein tried to buy cyber weapons for Israel, had Israeli intelligence and their former Prime Minister stay at his house dozens of times, ran the third largest pro-Israel charity in America that itself declared it, “acted from pure Zionistic motivations.” And that he helped Mossad and CIA connect during the Iran Contra conspiracy. Epstein lobbied to get the United States to bomb Syria and Iran on behalf of Israel.
Not to mention that his hench-woman (who is now playing for a Trump pardon) was the daughter of the legendary Israeli spy, Robert Maxwell.
And the establishment politicians and media want to act like the public can’t know who Epstein worked for and with? Come on!

No, this is not ‘antisemitic’, nor is it all-out Israel-bashing. The state of Israel correctly says that it routinely faces deadly threats, and must be creative and resourceful in defense. Every ‘intelligence’/spy/counterspy agency in the world has used the very old tradition of sexual blackmail -it’s a natural part of ‘spycraft’. The United States supplies over $4 billion in ‘domestic’ and military aid to Israel, but as the old saying goes, ‘all is fair in love and war’.

Or is it? Remember the paroxysms of partisan furor over the last decade over foreign interference in government and in our very elections? The redactions we have seen so far in the released Epstein files are certainly not about protecting victims, and they are about more than protecting Conman-In-Chief Trump, Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, Noam Chomsky, and many others. The American people should know the extent of THIS foreign ‘interference’.

Besides the aforementioned sexual exploitation victims of Epstein (and Maxwell, and others), there is also the matter of ongoing genocide in Gaza (now estimated over 650,000 dead, with over 350,000 of those being children under five years of age, not to mention the millions displaced). How instrumental was this sexual blackmail operation in swaying upper echelon leaders and journalists into keeping the United States government complicit with this genocide, even through the tumultuous Presidential election?
All of the world’s people deserve to know.

In the spirit of the #MeToo movement, and in remembrance of the Holocaust-
NEVER AGAIN!

Celebrate the holidays and enjoy time with family and friends, but please keep some headspace in solemn reflection and prayers for ALL victims.

May the new year bring better justice, peace, and stronger, grassroots, non-violent revolt!

Edwin “Eddie” Slipek

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Local writer and educator Ed Slipek passed away after a brief illness and there have been a number of good tributes published.
Bennet Funeral Home Obituary
Richmond Magazine
Style Weekly
Richmond Bizsense

Laurel Street neighbor Charles Pool wrote:

Ed Slipek was a passionate writer who worked tirelessly to encourage brilliant new architecture as well as to wake up Richmond to the treasures of our city’s historic neighborhoods before they are lost to greed and stupidity. I am so very, very grateful for the many articles that he wrote regarding the Oregon Hill community and architecture. Ed was not one to use email, and he kindly allowed me to drop off research on his Spring Hill doorstep on the latest issues. His articles really made a difference in those issues and in the public perception that Oregon Hill is a rare historic resource well-worth preserving.

It is a revelation to read an example of Ed’s brilliant writing that is as pertinent today as it was in 2002 when Oregon Hill was appropriately zoned as a residential neighborhood. Ed’s words are just as relevant now when the Oregon Hill Historic District is again fighting for survival against Code Refresh upzoning proposals that would allow 75′ tall buildings and huge apartment buildings on some blocks of the historic district of modest, two-story homes:

https://www.styleweekly.com/proceeding-as-planned/

Ed’s words live on. We were blessed with his wise words, and there have been few people that have had such a positive impact on our city as Ed Slipek. He will be greatly missed.

2nd Draft Of ‘Code Refresh’ Ignores Neighborhood Input

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Yesterday the City government released the latest drafts for its zoning ordinance rewrite project.

The Draft 2 zoning map now has 7 properties south of Green Alley changed from RA-A to RM-A zoning (6 dwelling units per building 40′ height, 70% lot coverage).

These properties now targeted with RM-A zoning are:
123 S. Pine
125 S. Pine
516 S. Pine

200 S. Linden (Grace Arents Housing)
202 S. Linden (Grace Arents Housing)

314 S. Cherry
316 S. Cherry
(314 and 316 were built in 1860, according to Zillow, and are now owned as a duplex)
407 S. Cherry has been changed from RA-A to RM-C

The athletic field of St Andrews is now proposed with MX-5 zoning with 75′ height limit.

The Draft 2 zoning map now proposes zoning for the properties north of Green Alley on the 100 blocks of Pine, Laurel and Cherry zoned RM-A.

Draft 2 zoning map now changed the St. Andrews Church and Pine Street Baptist Church zoning from RA-A to MX-3 zoning.

The Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association (OHNA) voted that all of these properties should be zoned RA-A

In addition, some properties on the 600, 700 and 800 blocks of W. Cary Street are now proposed with MX-5 zoning and some with MX-3.

OHNA voted that all of the properties on these blocks of W. Cary should be zoned MX-3.

General office and retail are still shown as permitted uses by right under the RA-A and higher zoning.

It’s discouraging, but not surprising that the City’s ‘Code Refresh’ push continues to toss aside neighborhood input. After all, it already has a reputation as a scam for developers’ profits and very little to do with ‘affordable housing’.

City government and local corporate media go on and on about the need for Richmond to update its zoning, which they say has not been updated since the 1970’s, refusing to acknowledge that Oregon Hill was properly and appropriately rezoned for R-7 in 2002, not the seventies. It’s dishonest.