The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has proposed a major change that would allow data centers to run polluting Tier II backup diesel generators during planned outage events, such as during construction projects and grid maintenance, that could last for days or weeks.
Cindy Sabato
Deconstruction and documentation of former Gilberts Corner gas station building to begin Dec. 2
After nearly three years of careful evaluation, The Piedmont Environmental Council has made the difficult but necessary decision to carefully deconstruct the 1927 Gilberts gas station structure at the Gilberts Corner Farmers Market, located at the intersection of U.S. Routes 15 and 50, in the interest of public safety.
Press Release: Piedmont Environmental Council Reacts to SCC Decisions in the Biennial Rate Case
The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) just announced its decision in the historic rate-setting case for Dominion Energy. “While this decision recognizes that data center demand is driving future expenditures – and grants Dominion’s request for a new large load class — many issues remain unresolved,” said PEC President Chris Miller.
Press Release: PEC Announces 2025 Photo Contest Winners
The Piedmont Environmental Council is pleased to announce the winners of its 2025 Annual Photo Contest.
Three Things Everyone Needs to Know About Data Centers in Virginia, Right Now
Data centers and rising energy costs were a top issue for voters in the election. But who’s really in charge? And, who’s responsible for ensuring there’s a transparent, sustainable, achievable energy plan for our state?
Community invited to judge PEC annual photo contest finalists through Nov. 16
MEDIA CONTACT: Hugh Kenny, Multimedia Communications Specialist, [email protected]; 540-347-2334, x7024
WARRENTON, VA. (Nov 1, 2025) – Finalists in The Piedmont Environmental Council’s 15th Annual Photo Contest have been selected and community members are now invited to view the images and vote for their favorites through Sunday, Nov. 16. To view the images and vote, visit pecva.org/photovote.
From among more than 700 entries, PEC staff and local professional photographers chose five finalists in each of four categories: Beautiful Landscapes and Streetscapes, Native Plants and Fungi, Wonderful Wildlife, and Youth. All finalists receive a one-year PEC membership and have their work featured in PEC’s upcoming online and/or print publications.
Chosen by community vote, the winners in each adult category will receive a $100 gift certificate to a nearby restaurant participating in PEC’s “Buy Fresh Buy Local” program. The Youth Category winner will receive their choice of a $100 gift card to a “Buy Fresh Buy Local” restaurant or a prepaid Visa card.
“The submissions to this year’s photo contest were absolutely amazing. These images help us tell important stories and connect people with this beautiful place in new and exciting ways. Thank you to everyone who submitted a photo,” said Hugh Kenny, PEC’s multimedia communications specialist and contest coordinator.
#####
2024 Photo Winners:
- Beautiful Landscapes: Luke Christopher, of Little Washington in Rappahannock, for “Looking down from Red Oak Mountain.” Caption: “Looking down from Red Oak Mt. on Shiloh church.”
- Wonderful Wildlife: Dorothy Kray of The Plains in Fauquier County, for “Fool Me Once.” Caption: “We all have that one sibling!
- Native Plants and Fungi: Jim Emery of Ashburn in Loudoun County, for “Snow-Capped Oyster Mushrooms.” Caption: “Snow-capped oyster mushrooms growing on a tree after moderate snowfall in Ashburn.”
- Youth Category: Alden Peterson of The Plains in Fauquier County, for “Rainy Nasturtium.” Caption: “Rainy Nasturtium at Chancellor’s Rock Farm Garden, Rappahannock County, Va”
The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) works to protect and restore the lands and waters of the Virginia Piedmont, while building stronger, more sustainable communities. Founded in 1972, PEC is a locally based, community-supported 501(c)3 nonprofit and accredited land trust. At the core of PEC’s approach is a focus on educating, engaging and empowering people to effect positive change in their communities.
Press Release: Energy independence and dual land use are central pillars of PEC’s new crop-based agrivoltaics demonstration project
On an appropriately sunny Friday afternoon, Oct. 17, more than 70 community members came together at The Piedmont Environmental Council’s Community Farm at Roundabout Meadows to officially “cut the ribbon” on Virginia’s first crop-based agrivoltaics project.
Press Release: Financial incentives available to farmers for haying practices that support nesting birds
Media Contacts:
October Greenfield, VGBI Co-Coordinator, [email protected]; 540-347-2334, x7051
Lauria McShane, VGBI Assistant; [email protected]; 540-347-2334, x7056
PIEDMONT, SHENANDOAH VALLEY, BLUE RIDGE, Va. (Oct. 14, 2025) – The Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative is pleased to announce the opening of its incentives program for landowners and farmers! Now through Nov 30, farmers in the 16 counties across the northern Virginia Piedmont, Blue Ridge, and Shenandoah Valley regions can apply for financial incentives to implement practices that help support nesting grassland birds during the 2026 haying season.
Entering its fifth year, the Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative is a collaborative effort of The Piedmont Environmental Council, Smithsonian’s Virginia Working Landscapes, Quail Forever, American Farmland Trust, and Shenandoah Valley Conservancy working together with landowners and farmers to restore grassland habitat using “regenerative” agricultural practices tested by farmers and researchers alike, proving to benefit both birds and agricultural operations. Funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, VGBI provides tools and technical assistance and pays farmers up to $35 per acre in exchange for: 1) delaying the first cut of hay until July 1 or later; and/or 2) rotating livestock out of select fields between April 15 and July 1 or later. Farmers can learn more about the program and apply at: vagrasslandbirds.org/incentives/.
VGBI was formed in response to the 53% decline in the 60 species of native grassland birds that have adopted hayfields and pasturelands as surrogate habitat as native grasslands have suffered more intense impact by humans than any other land-based ecosystem in North America. Since 2021, 57 farmers have formally enrolled over 3,600 acres of land into the financial incentives program, while another 37 have participated voluntarily, without the financial incentives, adding another 3,700 acres of land supporting nesting grassland birds.
“Delayed haying until at least July 1 is a game change for birds, because it allows them to fledge at least one successful clutch of young. But it also lets producers strategically spread out labor requirements during the hay cutting season, and the higher fiber, more mature hay resulting from delayed haying is good for feeding dry cows, horses, and retired animals, as well as for mushroom hay and bedding,” said Lauria McShane, PEC’s VGBI assistant.
Rotating livestock out of certain fields in early spring is called summer pasture stockpiling, and it “bridges the summer dormancy gap by providing standing forage in late summer without the risk and expense of planting summer annuals. Stockpiling also allows fields to rest for fall or winter stockpiling with the goal of reducing the days that hay is fed and, therefore, reducing annual feed cost,” McShane said.
On Francis McGuigan’s farm in Greene County, “the results were dramatic,” he said, pointing out a flock of at least 30 goldfinches perched atop vegetation enjoying seedheads from the field on a recent check-in with McShane that’s part of the incentives program. He said that in the past, he’d only see a couple of goldfinches fly over the field in any given year. “Not only did the bird population increase, but so did the insect, small mammal and amphibian populations. We saw and heard the results all summer. I’m proud that my small farm is supporting ecosystem expansion and resilience through VGBI’s summer pasture stockpiling program,” McGuigan said.
In Albemarle County, Michelle McKenzie enrolled Bellair Farm in both the delayed haying and summer pasture stockpiling programs in 2024. The increase in grassland birds has been so significant that McKenzie has hosted bird walks with the Virginia Society of Ornithology’s Piedmont Bird Club. “I would absolutely recommend this program to others. Interacting with the VGBI staff has also provided networking opportunities and discussions about other programs that we’re getting involved in,” McKenzie said. Those include four kestrel boxes and a barn owl box, which McShan monitors in spring and summer.
Monte Vista Farm in Greene County had 295 enrolled in VGBI’s delayed haying incentive program this summer, while another 40 acres on the outskirts of the hayfields have been converted into pollinator fields. “Happily, the new owners of Monte Vista Farm have the property primarily for wildlife habitat, and they’re already committed to delayed haying for the entire property going forward,” McShane said.
Producers can meet Virginia’s grassland birds and learn more about best management practices for birds, native plantings for quail, nesting boxes for American kestrel, streamside plantings for wildlife and water quality, and more at: https://www.vagrasslandbirds.org/resources/
Downloadable high-resolution images for media:
- Cattle entering a stockpiled field to graze. Credit John Teel.
- Members of the VGBI team sharing the Meet Your Grassland Birds guide. Credit Hugh Kenny, PEC.
- A peek at a page inside the Meet Your Grassland Birds guide. Credit Hugh Kenny, PEC
- A bobolink nest in a grassland field. Credit Bernadette Ridgely
#####
The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) works to protect and restore the lands and waters of the Virginia Piedmont, while building stronger, more sustainable communities. Founded in 1972, PEC is a locally based, community-supported 501(c)3 nonprofit and accredited land trust. At the core of PEC’s approach is a focus on educating, engaging and empowering people to effect positive change in their communities.
Press Release: Volunteers wanted to help plant trees in Flint Hill, Lovettsville, and “Little” Washington
The Piedmont Environmental Council is calling on community volunteers who love to get their hands dirty to join in any of three upcoming volunteer tree planting projects in October and November.
Press Release: Oct. 1 at Powers Farm & Brewery: free community workshop on funding and technical resources for land management and conservation
On Wednesday, Oct. 1, from 5-7 p.m., community members are invited to a free Conservation Funding Workshop and Social to learn about funding and technical assistance available to them for land management and conservation options.