Preston Bryant is a senior vice president at McGuireWoods Consulting where he works in the firm’s Infrastructure and Economic Development group. He has served in local, state, and federal elected and appointed office. His expertise lies in waste, wastewater, and energy generation projects, and he advises clients on project site selection and regulatory affairs. He also represents numerous public and private colleges and universities. In addition, Preston works with private equity investors and portfolio companies to help them understand the implications of state-level environmental policy decisions and market trends for their investment and business decision.
For the past 25 years, Preston’s experience in environmental, energy, infrastructure, and higher education matters has developed from his work in the public and private sectors. Preston was a partner for a decade in a Virginia-based civil engineering, surveying, and planning firm.
Preston served for two years on Lynchburg (Va.) City Council. He served for 10 years (1996-2006) in the Virginia House of Delegates, where he focused on environmental and capital infrastructure matters. He passed landmark environmental legislation leading to billions of dollars in investments in water quality infrastructure. He also played a key role in passing Virginia’s nationally recognized public-private partnership procurement statute, which also has led to billions of dollars invested in public infrastructure.
In 2006, Preston was appointed by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine to serve as Virginia’s secretary of natural resources, where he led the state’s six environmental, recreational, and historic resources agencies. He also helped write Virginia’s first statewide energy plan.
President Obama appointed Preston in 2009 to serve as chairman of the National Capital Planning Commission, the U.S. government’s central planning agency for all federal-owned lands and buildings in Washington, DC, and its Virginia and Maryland environs. Preston served in this role for nine years (2009-2018).
Preston Bryant is a senior vice president at McGuireWoods Consulting where he works in the firm’s Infrastructure and Economic Development group. He has served in local, state, and federal elected and appointed office. His expertise lies in waste, wastewater, and energy generation projects, and he advises clients on project site selection and regulatory affairs. He also represents numerous public and private colleges and universities. In addition, Preston works with private equity investors and portfolio companies to help them understand the implications of state-level environmental policy decisions and market trends for their investment and business decision.
For the past 25 years, Preston’s experience in environmental, energy, infrastructure, and higher education matters has developed from his work in the public and private sectors. Preston was a partner for a decade in a Virginia-based civil engineering, surveying, and planning firm.
Preston served for two years on Lynchburg (Va.) City Council. He served for 10 years (1996-2006) in the Virginia House of Delegates, where he focused on environmental and capital infrastructure matters. He passed landmark environmental legislation leading to billions of dollars in investments in water quality infrastructure. He also played a key role in passing Virginia’s nationally recognized public-private partnership procurement statute, which also has led to billions of dollars invested in public infrastructure.
In 2006, Preston was appointed by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine to serve as Virginia’s secretary of natural resources, where he led the state’s six environmental, recreational, and historic resources agencies. He also helped write Virginia’s first statewide energy plan.
President Obama appointed Preston in 2009 to serve as chairman of the National Capital Planning Commission, the U.S. government’s central planning agency for all federal-owned lands and buildings in Washington, DC, and its Virginia and Maryland environs. Preston served in this role for nine years (2009-2018).
Provided government relations and lobbying services to the City of Lynchburg (Va.) in successfully obtaining $25 million state appropriation of American Rescue Act Plan funds to support combined sewer overflow projects.
Provided government relations and lobbying services to Alexandria Renew Enterprises (aka, Alexandria Virginia Sanitation Authority) in successfully obtaining $50 million state appropriation of American Rescue Act Plan funds to support combined sewer overflow project.
Provides government relations and lobbying services to the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia, focusing on legislative and appropriations support for 27 private non-profit colleges and universities.
Provides government relations and lobbying services to the Virginia Association of Municipal Wastewater Agencies.
Provides government relations and lobbying services to the Virginia Municipal Drinking Water Association.
Provides government relations, regulatory advising, and lobbying services to Fairfax County (Va.) Water Authority.
Provides legislative services to the Virginia Resources Authority, an independent state financing agency supporting local government infrastructure projects.
Provided mediation services in August-November 2017 to Virginia Governor’s Office and Department of Environmental Quality on rulemaking among energy, environmental, industrial, and local government stakeholders for proposed carbon-trading regulations and Virginia possibly joining the nine-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).
Provided government relations, regulatory advising, and negotiation support over a two-year period to E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Company in a $50 million Natural Resources Damages Act settlement with the Commonwealth of Virginia and the U.S. Department of Interior on legacy mercury contamination of more than 100 miles of rivers. This was the largest NRDA settlement in Virginia history and the eighth-largest in the nation.
Provided government relations consulting services to Duke Energy in Virginia on matters relating to its 2014 coal ash spill in the Dan River.
Provide ongoing government relations services to Virginia Commonwealth University before the Governor’s Office and General Assembly.
Provided consulting services to HDR Engineering (and to the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission) on a year-long feasibility study on wastewater collection system consolidation of some 15 local governments; consulting team identified potential savings of more than $900 million over 30 years.
Provide ongoing government relations and regulatory advisory services to James City Service Authority before the General Assembly and state regulatory agencies on groundwater and surface water permitting, including for a potential new $130 million water treatment facility.
Provided Virginia and federal government relations and regulatory advising to Hampton Roads (Va.) Sanitation District on a proposed $1.2 billion, 120 MGD Potomac Aquifer injection/recharge project that also may reduce wastewater discharge into surface waters by some 90 percent. Represented HRSD before the General Assembly, Governor’s Office, and state regulatory agencies.
Provided government relations and regulatory permitting consulting services to Apex Clean Energy for Virginia’s first utility-scale wind power generation project (85 MW, up to 25 turbines).
Provided government relations consulting services to a major East Coast cell tower developer; successfully sited on government-owned property more than a dozen towers in Virginia localities; included private-to-public revenue sharing agreements.
Provided representation to Virginia Municipal League before the General Assembly and Governor’s Office on environmental legislative and policy matters.
Provide ongoing government relations and environmental policy consulting services to a major environmental consulting firm on public-private partnerships to design and construct municipal stormwater infrastructure.
Provide ongoing government relations and legislative advisory services to the Virginia Water and Waste Authorities Association, comprised of more than 40 water, wastewater, and stormwater public service authorities.
Provide ongoing government relations consulting services to Hampton Roads (Va.) Planning District Commission (comprised of 16 local governments), focusing on stormwater and other environmental matters.
Provide government relations and advisory services to a major developer on federal and state historic rehabilitation tax credits on a $175 million residential and commercial development in Fairfax County, Va.
Provide ongoing general government relations and strategic advisory services to the Virginia Resources Authority, a state financing entity to local governments for infrastructure projects.
Provided government relations and economic development incentives negotiations consulting services to Vireol Bio Energy, establishing the largest ethanol manufacturing facility on the East Coast; secured nearly $5 million in state and local economic development support.
Provided government relations and environmental policy consulting services to the Economic Development Authority of the City of Richmond (Va.) on a potential new minor league baseball stadium in downtown Richmond.
Provided strategic advice to a major national bank on federal and state environmental policy (in six states) regarding coal mining operations, focusing on the Clean Water Act.
Provided government relations and environmental policy consulting services to Columbia Gas of Maryland (NiSource) on the design and construction of an approximately 25-mile natural gas transmission line in Maryland.
Provided government relations consulting services and assisted in economic development incentives negotiations to Lumber Liquidators for a new distribution center in Henrico County, Va.
Provided government relations services to Louisa County (Va.) Water Authority in securing a $1.6 million state grant for a wastewater treatment facility expansion.
Getting to Know the American Rescue Act Plan of 2021, Virginia Municipal League Town and City Magazine, June 2021
Biden Should Deepen Ties with Vietnam in Resetting China Policy, Oxford Political Review, December 3, 2020
Three Steps Forward for Environmental Justice in Virginia, Virginia Municipal League Town and City Magazine, November 2020
Mark Warner’s Diligence Led to the Great American Outdoors Act, Richmond Times-Dispatch, September 7, 2020
Understanding the Virginia Clean Economy Act, Virginia Municipal League Town and City Magazine, April 2020
Gerald Baliles’ Work to Protect Virginia’s Environment is Central to His Legacy, Richmond Times-Dispatch, October 20, 2019
Electrifying Virginia: Over a Century of Progress to Make Our Lights Burn Brighter, Virginia Municipal League Town and City Magazine, June 2019
Powering Up for the Future, Virginia Municipal League Town and City Magazine, June 2018
Virginia Will Grow. Its Infrastructure Must, Too. And That Means Big Costs., Virginia Municipal League Town and City Magazine, March 30, 2018
Finding Out What Lies Beneath: Richmond, Washington Coming Together on Offshore Energy Production, Lynchburg News & Advance, July 27, 2014
Public-Private Collaboration Remains the Key to Securing Virginia’s Energy Future, Richmond Times-Dispatch, October 15, 2013
Red, White and Green, William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review, 37.1 (2012): 1-24
Congress Must Modernize the Clean Water Act, Richmond Times-Dispatch, October 23, 2012
District Energy and Virginia Law, Journal of Local Government Law, Spring 2012
Stormwater Utilities Key to Bay Cleanup, Richmond Times-Dispatch, January 9, 2011
Restart for Nuclear Power Plants, Raleigh News & Observer, December 30, 2010
Government, Industry Aligning to Develop Offshore Wind Farms, Virginian Pilot, June 27, 2010
Universities are Leading the Sustainability Revolution, University of Richmond Alumni Magazine, Summer 2010
Climate Change, Richmond Times-Dispatch, July 17, 2009
How the Kaine Administration is Moving Towards a More Sustainable Virginia, Virginia Environmental Law Journal, 2009
On Climate, Obama Must Hurry, Richmond Times-Dispatch, December 17, 2008
State Commission Grapples With Climate Change, Richmond Times-Dispatch, February 22, 2008
Board of Trustees, The Library of Virginia, 2016-present; Chair, 2019-2021
Advisory Committee, Division of Earth & Life Studies, National Academy of Sciences, 2012-2018
Board of Trustees, Randolph-Macon College, 2010-2022
Board of Directors, James River Association, 2010-2012
Chairman and Member, National Capital Planning Commission, 2009-2018 (appointed by President Obama, October 2009)
Board of Directors, American Foundation for Royal Holloway & Bedford New College, Inc. (University of London), 2008-2022
Board of Directors, Capitol Square Civil Rights Memorial Foundation, Inc., 2005-2007
Board of Trustees, Inger and Walter Rice Center for Environmental Life Sciences, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2003-2007
Board Member, Vice-Chair, Chair, Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, 1994-2000; 2001-2007
Advisory Board Member, Virginia Institute of Government, University of Virginia, 1998-2006
Board Member, Opera on the James, 2005-2006
Member, Randolph-Macon College Board of Associates, 1994-2004
Board Member, Vice-President, President, National Kidney Foundation of Virginia, 1997-2001
Board Member, Central Virginia Community Services, 1994-1995