Bryn is native to the Piedmont with roots in Rappahannock County. Growing up in the area solidified her love and appreciation for the outdoors early on and inspired her career in conservation.
PEC
Lea Justice
Lea Justice joined The Piedmont Environmental Council as Volunteer Coordinator in July, 2025 after first serving as Buy Fresh Buy Local Assistant since the fall of 2024.
Keely Murphy
Keely Murphy joins PEC as the Conservation Field Representative for the Potomac Watershed. Keely got her professional start in land conservation in Colorado where she worked for Colorado Open Lands as a Conservation Fellow. Prior to living in Colorado, she spent 10 years studying and working in Washington D.C.
Dominion Energy Integrated Resource Plan projects historic rate increases for Virginia ratepayers while subsidizing the world’s wealthiest companies
The Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) filed by Dominion
Energy with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (“SCC”) this week projects a more than 100
percent increase in electricity usage in the next 15 years, primarily driven by the explosive and
uncontrolled growth of data centers.
Amanda Aiyar
Amanda joined The Piedmont Environmental Council team in August 2024 and serves as the HR & Payroll Specialist.
On The Ground Updates – September 2024
A series of short updates from around the PEC region – Albemarle & Charlottesville, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Greene, Loudoun, Madison, Orange & Rappahannock.
A Match Made in Conservation
Stepping into land conservation for the first time, or starting a new conservation project, can feel as intimidating or overwhelming as a first date might feel. But in these brightly lit rooms with friendly faces, VGBI’s Conservation Speed Dating workshops replace the awkward small-talk with a fun and comfortable atmosphere where neighbors come together with conservation professionals to receive guidance.
2024 Summer Fellowship Program Highlights
PEC’s eight-week Summer Fellowship Program engages 12 college students and graduates in classroom discussions, field trips, and hands-on activities designed to impart practical knowledge and skills for careers in conservation, urban planning, agriculture, historic preservation, public policy and other related fields.
Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative offers financial incentives for delayed haying and summer pasture stockpiling
Now through Nov 15, the Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative (VGBI) is accepting applications from producers in 16 counties across the northern Virginia Piedmont, Blue Ridge, and Shenandoah Valley, who are interested in financial incentives for protecting nesting grassland birds during the 2025 haying season.
Jessica Edington
Jessica joined PEC in August 2024 as the Publications Assistant. Her work includes the production of the Piedmont View, and she has a passion for telling the stories that help people connect to the vital work that PEC is doing.