Press Center

Please address general press inquiries to Cindy Sabato at csabato@pecva.org or 540-347-2334 x7021 — or to the point of contact listed in a specific press release. You can also get in touch with PEC on Twitter (@piedmontenviron).

beautiful forested landscape with blue mountains on horizon

6,315 acres conserved in nine-county region last year

The Piedmont Environmental Council reports that in 2023, 6,315 acres of land in Albemarle, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Greene, Loudoun, Madison, Orange and Rappahannock counties were permanently protected with 52 new conservation easements …
The Piedmont Environmental Council announces new board officers

The Piedmont Environmental Council announces new board officers

The Piedmont Environmental Council Board of Directors has a new board chair, David Aldrich, and new board officers: Leslie Cockburn, vice chair; Margrete Stevens, secretary; and Chris McLean, treasurer …
PEC lawsuit confirms abuse of FOIA by Orange County for the benefit of Amazon

PEC lawsuit confirms abuse of FOIA by Orange County for the benefit of Amazon

The Virginia FOIA lawsuit that PEC filed against Orange County in October concluded last month with officials turning over the requested documents, thus avoiding a hearing in court …
Early rays of sunshine painting the forest floor covered in Bluebells along the Shenandoah River, Cool Springs Battlefield, Clarke County, VA.

PEC Announces Annual Photo Contest Winners for 2023

Photographers submitted more than 600 images of the beautiful Virginia Piedmont …
| | PEC Photo Contest, Press Center
Representatives from several groups joined together at PEC’s o  ce on July 27 to kick o  a statewide data center reform coalition. Photo by Hugh Kenny

Virginia Data Center Reform Coalition to kick off with Dec. 1 press conference

Nonprofit organizations, homeowners’ groups, and residents from all over Virginia have joined forces to form a coalition that is calling for industry-wide data center reform …
writ of mandamus screenshot

Piedmont Environmental Council sues Orange County for VFOIA violations

In the interest of good governance and transparency, The Piedmont Environmental Council filed a lawsuit yesterday against Orange County for improperly denying public access to documents pertaining to a local rezoning application, in violation of …
group stands on rural property

Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative offers financial incentives for delayed haying and summer pasture stockpiling

Now through Nov. 15, the Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative is accepting applications from producers who are interested in financial incentives for protecting nesting grassland birds during the 2024 haying season …
landscape shot of rural farmland and mountains

PEC Accepting Annual Photo Contest Submissions Through Sept. 30

Now through September 30, photographers are invited to submit their best images of the Virginia Piedmont to PEC’s 12th Annual Photo Contest …
Solarize Piedmont 2023 makes going solar easy, now through Aug. 31

Solarize Piedmont 2023 makes going solar easy, now through Aug. 31

Solarize Piedmont 2023, a Piedmont Environmental Council campaign in partnership with the Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) and participating municipalities, is running now through August 31 …
Climate-Vulnerability-and-Risk-Assessment-cover-page

Albemarle County recognized for resilience planning effort

The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) is pleased to congratulate Albemarle County for receiving the Resilient Virginia Community of the Year Honorable Mention in the American Planning Association Virginia Awards Program. The Resilient Virginia Community of …