Clarke County is an example what can be achieved when conservation, historic preservation and responsible economic development intersect. To celebrate Clarke County and the incredible work being done there, we created a story map virtual tour to show you some of the county’s most interesting and significant places.
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.
Crossover Update
Wednesday marked the halfway point of Virginia’s 2020 General Assembly Session, a date known as ‘crossover.’ The House and Senate have each finished voting on the bills their members put forward, and now move on to consider legislation passed by the other body. While much legislating is left to be done, this is always a good time to provide an update about where various pieces of legislation stand.
Video: Building Bike and Pedestrian Connections
We’re working with a diverse coalition of organizations and communities to envision and implement a comprehensive network of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure that is safe, inclusive, and useful for transportation in Charlottesville and Albemarle County.
2020 General Assembly Session
With a new democratic majority in both the House and the Senate, there are new legislative priorities and an immense number of bills have been filed. Given this, we are working hard to track all of the relevant bills, as well as keep our issues in the minds of the legislators.
Bills Related to Safety on Rt 17
The 2020 General Assembly is in full swing and Senator Jill Vogel and Delegate Michael J. Webert have several bills submitted regarding the safety of Rt. 17. Constituents have long had concerns about speeding on Rt. 17 between Warrenton and Marshall so three bills are being considered that would…
About the General Assembly
The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Its bicameral body consists of the Virginia House of Delegates, with 100 members, and the Senate of Virginia, with 40 members.
Virginia Conservation Network (VCN)
PEC coordinates with our partners at the Virginia Conservation Network (VCN) on important statewide environmental issues—everything from clean energy and renewables to menhaden and Metro funding.
BikeCville is Back!
BikeCville is a series of relaxed all-ability group bike rides in Charlottesville, VA, hosted by The Piedmont Environmental Council and other local organizations. The purpose is to have fun while raising the visibility of cycling, encouraging hesitant cyclists, educating and fostering the region’s advocacy network. All rides are free, open to all and appropriate for anyone who can ride for half an hour.
Meet Senior Conservation Fellow Kat Imhoff
When it comes to conservation, Kat Imhoff is nothing short of a virtuoso, as abundant in inspiration and innovation as she is in action. At the helm of Montpelier, Monticello, and The Nature Conservancy in Montana, she led conservation and restoration projects that preserve significant historical, cultural and rural legacies. PEC is proud to welcome Kat into its fold as senior conservation fellow, working out of our Charlottesville office.
What will tomorrow bring?
This year’s Virginia General Assembly promises to be an interesting one, as the November 2019 elections resulted in a change in leadership in both the House and the Senate. A new Speaker of the House (Filler-Corn), Senate Majority Leader (Saslaw) and large shifts in committee memberships of both bodies are among the changes. With Governor Northam still in office, the Democrats have consolidated control of state government for the first time in more than two decades. And that means we will see many of the priorities of the party at the forefront of the legislative agenda.