We couldn’t have asked for a better day to hold PEC’s Annual Gathering on Saturday, May 30 to celebrate conservation and community. A beautiful property, exciting program line-up, sun and blue skies beckoned nearly 200 of you to join the festivities, which included an inspiring keynote address, a community lunch and four engaging workshops.
Regional, State and National
PEC joins with partner organizations to promote thriving communities and healthy natural resources in the Shenandoah Valley, the central Piedmont, the Journey Through Hallowed Ground corridor and Northern Virginia counties.
Time’s Up: The Costs of Data Center Tax Break in Virginia Far Outweigh the Benefits
Virginia has one last chance this year to pump the brakes on an unprecedented data center expansion that is overwhelming the state’s electric grid — and its communities.
The General Assembly Must Prioritize People Over Data Centers
PEC is calling on legislators to go further and use the budget to pause the sales tax exemption and pause approvals of new data center projects so Virginia can actually plan for the impacts of the 51GW’s of data center demand that’s already been approved.
A Big Win for Net Metering in Virginia + Free Assessments During Solarize Piedmont
We’re excited to share a major win for clean energy and energy independence in Virginia. The State Corporation Commission (SCC) ruled that net metering, which is an essential part of rooftop solar, will remain unchanged!
Joshua Falls-Yeat 765 kV Transmission Line Update
Next steps for the Joshua Falls-Yeat 765 kV transmission line project, including a list of community meetings you can attend in June, an opportunity for public comment, and what actions communities have taken.
Page-Sperryville Transmission Line Upgrade: What You Should Know
Regional utility provider FirstEnergy is proposing to rebuild the roughly 14-mile-long, 138-kilovolt (kV) transmission line stretching from Luray in Page County to Sperryville in Rappahannock County. Known as the Page-Sperryville Transmission Line Project, it has a target completion date of 2028.
Meaningful clean energy legislation passed in 2026
We are pleased to share the great news that 12 solution-oriented energy bills PEC either authored, informed, or advocated for in the General Assembly were signed into law (pending two minor amendments) by Gov. Spanberger!
Piedmont Environmental Council Statement on the Potomac River Being Named the Most Threatened River in America
This week, American Rivers released its 2026 list of most endangered rivers, and the Potomac River leads the list, due in large part to uncontrolled data center growth throughout the watershed.
In Major Win, Massive ‘Digital Gateway’ Data Center Project Has Been Halted
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.
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.