On the Ground Updates – September 2025

Posted on by PEC

Albemarle & Charlottesville

  • As Albemarle County updates its Data Center Ordinance, PEC is strongly advocating that all proposed data centers larger than 40,000 square feet be required to go through a Special Use Permit process, which allows for public input on the possible adverse impacts from energy-, water-, and land-intensive infrastructure development.
  • After a popular pilot program, Albemarle County has voted to permanently close Free Bridge Lane to cars, creating a safe riverside space for walking, running and biking. PEC and others are collecting ideas to transform the disused roadway into a vibrant park.
  • PEC has been involved every step of the way in the three-year update of the Albemarle Comprehensive Plan (AC44). We have advocated for Rural Area protections and smart growth planning in the Development Areas to prevent sprawl and promote healthy urban living through walkable, dense development. We anticipate the Board of Supervisors will adopt AC44 late this fall.
  • PEC is advocating for a county ordinance requiring testing of biosolids for PFAS, heavy metals, or other contaminates before spreading on agricultural lands in the Rural Area. We have also engaged the community on the health and environmental impacts of spreading biosolids and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality permitting process.

Clarke

  • On June 23, county staff wrapped up their Rural Lands Plan public listening sessions with an event focused on the Mountain Areas. As in the three previous sessions, residents expressed a strong desire to see Clarke County maintain its rural nature and hold steady to its own longstanding goals.
  • At its June meeting, the Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted the new Double Tollgate Light Industrial District, which the county hopes will encourage economic growth in an appropriate region while maintaining the integrity of the county’s agricultural lands.

Culpeper

  • On Sept. 2, the Board of Supervisors voted to remove data centers as a by-right use on all land outside the Culpeper Tech Zone — a data center tax incentive area where six new campuses are planned. PEC supports adding needed guardrails to future data center development in Culpeper.
  • The DALRO data center developer has withdrawn its substation application after the Planning Commission recommended its denial.
  • Strata Solar has resubmitted its application for the utility-scale Maroon Solar project, which the Board of Supervisors previously denied in 2021. No hearing date for this project has been set.
  • On Sept. 9, the town of Culpeper held its final hearing on the Unified Draft Ordinance update. The biggest proposed change is a move to form-based zoning, which in most cases emphasizes a building’s visual character over how it will be used. PEC supports parts of the draft ordinance that would consider rooftop solar and EV chargers as a by-right residential use and restrict data center development to the area where projects have already been approved.

Fauquier

  • In June, the Planning Commission recommended denial of the Gigaland data center development proposal. After a tremendous outpouring of engagement from community members expressing concerns, the developers have withdrawn their applications for now, but do intend to submit new, scaled-down plans in early 2026. PEC will continue to monitor and inform the public about this project.
  • Four other data center projects spanning 632 acres and with buildings totaling 6.6 million square feet are in various stages of application or development in and around Remington. The Planning Commission will review the Convergent Tech Park proposal at a work session this fall. PEC is very concerned with this trend in data center development, which requires innumerable rezonings, comprehensive plan amendments and special exceptions.
  • PEC is following several power projects. In June, the Planning Commission recommended approval of a Dominion Energy battery storage application, to be considered by the Board of Supervisors Sept. 11. Dominion Energy’s Remington-Marsh Run 230-kilovolt-line project will go to the State Corporation Commission this fall. The Planning Commission will consider the Morrisville Substation Expansion project Sept. 18.
  • Remington is about to receive well-deserved attention to flooding issues thanks to $125,000 in federal funding and the Army Corps of Engineers for a stormwater modeling study.

Greene

  • In June, the Board of Supervisors passed a resolution approving a reduced size for both the White Run Reservoir and the proposed water treatment plant. PEC has followed the county’s water supply planning and engaged community members through multiple stages.
  • In July, the Board of Supervisors approved a solar ordinance clarifying the different requirements for rooftop or ground-mounted solar installations for residential, business or farm use, versus utility-scale solar facilities connected to distribution and transmission lines.

Loudoun

  • PEC continues to track and comment on Loudoun’s data center applications, including two approved in July and others awaiting review. We’re also tracking related energy impacts, including PJM-requested diesel generator use and several transmission line projects: one facing litigation (Aspen to Golden) and one with an SCC hearing scheduled Sept. 18 (Golden to Mars).
  • The county is providing more data center guardrails with Phase 2 of the Data Center Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Zoning Ordinance Amendment, as well as a new Electrical Infrastructure Plan. PEC will continue to provide input and inform the public about mitigating data center impacts.
  • PEC continues to encourage public input on the ongoing Western Loudoun Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Zoning Ordinance Amendment stakeholder sessions. Upcoming sessions are: Mountainside Overlay District Sept. 30; bed & breakfasts Oct. 22; and alcohol licenses and food service Nov. 5.
  • PEC is also following other important county land use issues, including a troubling U.S. Route 15 bypass around Lucketts (meeting Oct. 8) and falling groundwater levels.

Madison

  • The Economic Development Committee, formed by the Board of Supervisors after a May 2024 study on creating Technology Zones, held a town hall in August to report its findings on data centers and economic development. After touring data centers in Northern Virginia and Harrisonburg and talking to Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, the committee concluded that attracting large data centers to Madison County was unlikely given infrastructure limitations, but left open the potential to attract “smaller” data centers. Several committee members and the majority of the public commenters at the town hall voiced preference for less-impactful economic development opportunities such as tourism.

Orange

  • Biosolids company Synagro is seeking a state permit to spread PFAS-contaminated biosolids on farmland in Orange County. PEC believes that Synagro’s permit request should not proceed without a public hearing to fully consider the impact of PFAS — also known as “forever chemicals” — in biosolids and the risks to farmers, residents and the environment. We have requested a public hearing and urged residents to do the same. At press time, a public hearing has not been set.
  • On Aug. 2, the long-awaited, newly-renovated Gordonsville community pool opened, just in time for residents to enjoy a respite from the summer heat. The pool opening is a major milestone in a 10-year effort to expand Gordonsville’s town park. With assistance from community members and a grant from Virginia Outdoors Foundation, PEC secured funds to buy and donate two parcels that allowed the county to expand the community park by connecting Verling Park and Fireman’s Fairgrounds, resulting in nearly 10 acres of outdoor event and recreation space in the heart of the community. The planning and development of the expanded park is ongoing.

Rappahannock

  • The Planning Commission is holding a series of outreach meetings as part of its review of the county’s Comprehensive Plan, adopted in 2020. The goal of the meetings is to hear from citizens about ideas for future updates of the plan, which must, by law, be reviewed every five years.

This article appeared in the 2025 fall edition of The Piedmont Environmental Council’s member newsletter, The Piedmont View. If you’d like to become a PEC member or renew your membership, please visit pecva.org/join.