On March 31, the Virginia Court of Appeals issued a unanimous ruling that effectively halts the controversial “Digital Gateway” project proposed in Prince William County, barring an appeal to the Virginia Supreme Court.
Our Region
PEC focuses on nine counties and one city in the northern Piedmont of Virginia: Albemarle, Charlottesville, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Greene, Loudoun, Madison, Orange, and Rappahannock.
We also team with local organizations to promote thriving communities and healthy natural resources in a much larger region, including the Shenandoah Valley, the central Piedmont, and the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Corridor. In addition, we are proud to serve as fiscal sponsor of the Coalition for Smarter Growth, an organization that focuses on land use and policy in the greater Washington D.C. area.
Shenandoah Borderlands project protects 5,000 acres for clean water, habitat, scenic viewshed
Shenandoah National Park is one of Virginia’s most beloved and visited outdoor spaces, attracting 1.7 million visitors in 2025. It’s also a global conservation priority for biodiversity protection and climate resiliency. For these reasons, The Piedmont Environmental Council has been strategically identifying and conserving privately-owned lands running along the park’s eastern edge with a project called the Shenandoah Borderlands Conservation Initiative.
Hilton Farm: A Key Piece of the Conservation Puzzle in the Rappahannock-Rapidan Watershed
You know that feeling when you’re putting together a puzzle and there’s that “Aha!” moment, when filling in one missing piece brings everything together? Hilton Farm in Orange County is an example of this phenomenon playing out in conservation form.
General Assembly Update — Spring 2026
Every day, Piedmont Environmental Council staff engage at the local, state and federal levels to shape public policy with an eye toward protecting and restoring the lands and waters of the Virginia Piedmont while building strong, more sustainable communities. The Virginia General Assembly serves as the main stage for these efforts.
On the Ground Updates – April 2026
A series of short updates from around the PEC region – Albemarle & Charlottesville, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Greene, Loudoun, Madison, Orange & Rappahannock.
Photos + Event Recap: A Beautiful Day for the Bluebells
On Sunday, Margrete led participants, aged 5 to 90, on a short hike to the banks of Cedar Run to enjoy the stunning bluebells and learn about native plants, habitat restoration, and efforts that protect the cold, clean water of Cedar Run.
Tell Culpeper Officials to Hold Their Ground: No Bending the Rules for Reckless Development
The Town of Culpeper is once again trying to fast-track data centers with a new code amendment, and the Maroon Solar utility-scale solar project is headed to a Board of Supervisors vote on April 7.
Spring Orange County Updates
The Piedmont Environmental Council’s updates on the Valley Link transmission line, the Town of Orange’s data center changes, data center lawsuit updates, and an April 10 conservation event. Get updates at pecva.org/signup.
Join Us for a Q&A on Our New Vantage Data Center Air Quality Study
I’m writing to share a data center air quality study we recently commissioned that showed some alarming results, and to invite you to an event in Loudoun on Thursday, April 9 to learn more about the study findings and how they impact you, and what you can do.
PEC statement on Prince William Digital Gateway latest legal win
The recent ruling by the Virginia Court of Appeals against the Prince William Digital Gateway, in favor of the citizen-backed lawsuits attempting to block it, is another example of the growing grassroots power of Virginians pushing back against uncontrolled data center development.