The Piedmont Environmental Council Board of Directors has approved three new members this year: Jane Fisher of Charlottesville; Andrew Gutowski of Culpeper County; and Kemp Hill of Madison County.
Cindy Sabato
Bluebell Walk on Cedar Run April 13 to honor Mike Stevens
Each year in April, a spectacular display of thousands of bluebells appears on the banks of Cedar Run at Bonny Brook Farm. Sunday, April 13, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. — rain or shine — community members are invited to celebrate this rite of spring with The Piedmont Environmental Council and host Margrete Stevens.
PEC’s Big Year in Conservation
Last year, within The Piedmont Environmental Council’s nine-county region, landowners partnered with conservation organizations like ours to conserve 5,446 acres of lands and forever protect the many public benefits they provide the region.
Virginia citizens and businesses have opportunity to weigh in with the SCC on data centers and the long term impact on their energy costs
The General Assembly failed to pass meaningful data center reform, despite the introduction of bi-partisan bills to rein in data center impacts and protect Virginia ratepayers from increased energy costs. Now, all eyes are on the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC), a state agency that has regulatory jurisdiction over our utilities.
The 2025 General Assembly Again Fails to Take Meaningful Action on the Accelerating Impact of Data Centers on Virginians
The General Assembly chose to avoid addressing the mounting financial and environmental risks and costs to all Virginians. It’s not clear why. But what is clear is that Dominion Energy and the five largest and richest companies in the world have opposed data center reform and they have immense resources to support their position.
Mobility Summit galvanizes community for better walking, biking and outdoor access; unofficially launches Three Notched Trail plan
Area residents, organizations and leaders who want better places to walk, bike and run are coming together at the Fifth Annual Charlottesville/Albemarle Active Mobility Summit Thursday, Mar. 6 (5:30–8 p.m.) and Friday, Mar. 7 (9 a.m.–12 p.m. ) at The Wool Factory.
General Assembly has opportunity to create a Smarter Digital Future for Virginia
Several pieces of legislation have been introduced to reform data center development and protect Virginia ratepayers.
Commission Study Confirms that Energy Demand is Out of Control, Threatening The Community with Higher Costs and Impacts Across the State and Beyond
We applaud the commission’s work over the past year to assess the scope of economic, energy, and environmental impacts due to explosive data center growth. But their analysis of the impact on communities, the environment and the historic and cultural resources is insufficient, and their recommendations don’t match the severity of the impact.
PEC Announces Annual Photo Contest Winners for 2024
The Piedmont Environmental Council is pleased to announce the winners of its 2024 Annual Photo Contest.
The Virginia SCC has forced Transparency Out of Dominion Energy
The State Corporation Commission required Dominion to supplement its Oct. 15, 2024, Integrated Resource Plan with modeling plans that meet the requirements of the Virginia Clean Economy Act and show scenarios without data center load. Dominion Energy has begrudgingly responded and the results are alarming, yet unsurprising.