executive director

When the Power Goes Out

When the Power Goes Out


From the Desk of the Executive Director Losing power, especially when your home’s life-preserving systems are reliant on it, such as heating and cooling, is stressful. Many Virginians lost power during the early January storms – not just for 24 hours, but for multiple days, with near-freezing temperatures adding to the challenge. All of read more...

Musings on the Year Gone By (2021)

Musings on the Year Gone By (2021)


From the Desk of the Executive Director Reflecting on the majority of the year gone by, I’m cautiously optimistic about the new year. As society continues gaining tools to fight COVID-19, LEAP continues implementing new policies and programming to fight climate change and the excessive energy burden facing low-income households. In 2021, LEAP made read more...

Changing Energy Markets Will Impact Virginia

Changing Energy Markets Will Impact Virginia


From the Desk of the Executive Director The news regarding the energy sector has moved from Texas blackouts, to power outages in Louisiana, to surging natural gas and power prices in the UK and Europe, to blackouts in China, and now to warnings about a likely expensive winter heating season caused by spiking natural read more...

Keep Cool Like a Wonk

Keep Cool Like a Wonk


From the Desk of the Executive Director I recently came back from a short trip to the UK (to attend my sister-in-law’s wedding), where the temperatures were much milder. Hot, humid, and uncomfortable late into the day seems to be most days in VA currently and is definitely what hit me as I stepped read more...

Insulation – the unsung hero of energy efficiency. Yes, you probably need more of it!

Insulation – the unsung hero of energy efficiency. Yes, you probably need more of it!


From the Desk of the Executive Director I spent part of my Memorial Day weekend installing insulation under a mobile home trailer. Even though 90% of LEAP’s work is implementing energy-efficiency measures like installing insulation, and I think about it a lot, I don’t usually spend my free time installing it. Have you ever read more...

Solar, Solar, Solar, but Reduce First!

Solar, Solar, Solar, but Reduce First!


From the Desk of the Executive Director It is starting to get warmer out, and my rooftop solar production is high! If the warm weather has got you thinking about solar energy too, our Solarize campaign is live in Northern Virginia and around the corner in the Piedmont region. But, this year we are read more...

New Year Means New Programs and New Opportunities

New Year Means New Programs and New Opportunities


From the Desk of the Executive Director While the start of the New Year was less celebratory than in years past, for multiple reasons, 2021 holds many new opportunities and the launch of a new program worth getting excited about. I’m very excited about the opportunity for Community Solar and the rules for it read more...

Finding the Silver Lining in 2020

Finding the Silver Lining in 2020


From the Desk of the Executive Director Like many organizations, LEAP came sailing into the year 2020 with the wind in its sails – only to be slammed into the rocky shoals that are COVID-19. All was not lost though, and kudos to the LEAP crew who salvaged remnants of the “ship” and turned read more...

Leaves are Changing and Sweater Time!

Leaves are Changing and Sweater Time!


From the Desk of the Executive Director My wife loves fall. The coziness of sweaters, soup, and the addition of the comforters on the bed, I guess.  I’m more ambivalent about it in general, but do like that for a solid two months, we don’t have to use our heating or cooling systems – read more...

LEAP’s COVID New “Normal”: Growing and Expanding in Uncertain Times

LEAP’s COVID New “Normal”: Growing and Expanding in Uncertain Times


The last update I provided was about how LEAP is operating in a manner to ensure we are protecting our staff and clients from COVID-19. Over the last several months, LEAP’s operational and nonprofit business model has evolved based on new information about COVID-19. This is of course challenging, as we are building the read more...