A brief update on Wilderness Crossing and some related Orange County happenings.
Orange County
PEC’s Orange County office supports our land use and land conservation activities in the County. PEC is dedicated to promoting healthy communities and the preservation of Orange’s rural character, environment and historic resources.
Get Distributed Solar for Your Home, Farm or Business
It’s solar season! Solarize Piedmont, our annual campaign with the Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP), is running now through the end of August.
With parcel transfer complete, Town of Gordonsville expands community park
PEC has transferred two properties it owned in Gordonsville to the Town of Gordonsville for the expansion of Verling Park, moving forward a community-wide effort to improve the 70-year-old park into the redevelopment phase.
PEC Presentation on Data Centers & Virginia’s Clean Energy Future
On June 10, 2023, The Piedmont Environmental Council hosted our annual meeting in Loudoun County and featured a workshop on data centers and Virginia’s clean energy future. The presentation, given by PEC’s Senior Energy and Climate Policy Analyst Ashish Kapoor and Director of Land Use Julie Bolthouse, is available to view and download below.
On the Ground Updates – June 2023
A series of short updates from around the PEC region.
Shining a light on undertold stories
In recent years, we’ve expanded our collaborative work with a focus on shining a light on undertold stories of people and communities of color.
PEC supports legal challenge to Orange County Wilderness Crossing rezoning
On May 24, 2023, the American Battlefield Trust, Central Virginia Battlefields Trust, Inc., Friends of Wilderness Battlefield, Inc., and a number of Orange County and Spotsylvania County residents filed a legal challenge to the recent approval by the Orange County Board of Supervisors of the rezoning of 2,600 acres in the county, known as Wilderness Crossing, at the gateway to the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park. The lawsuit cites several violations of state constitutional and statutory law and county zoning ordinance, including procedural errors, lack of required submittals and findings, and failure to comply with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, among other errors.
New local food guides printed and mailed region-wide
From veggies and fruit, to meat and dairy, to beer, wine and more, you’ll find your favorite local food in our recently released 2023-2024 guides for the Northern Piedmont, Loudoun County and Charlottesville Area.
Northern Piedmont Buy Fresh Buy Local guide arriving in mailboxes now
With the spring growing season upon the Virginia Piedmont, The Piedmont Environmental Council is pleased to announce the release of its 2023-2024 Buy Fresh Buy Local Northern Piedmont guide, offering a one-stop source connecting consumers to fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy, meat and more, by way of local farmers and farmers markets.
Recap of the Wilderness Crossing Vote
Thank you to all who came to speak out against Wilderness Crossing at last Tuesday’s public hearing. It was a great showing of community engagement and democracy in action despite the discouraging outcome.