Finally, the world is hearing the alarm that The Piedmont Environmental Council has been sounding for years: that the unconstrained and unregulated explosion of the data center industry is forever changing the face of not only Virginia, but communities around the world.
Maps & Resources
Wild & Connected: Shenandoah Borderlands property conserved
Nestled on the eastern slope of Saddleback Mountain, a small cottage in the woods has been a family retreat for sisters Gayle and Cathy Soloe for decades, since their father first purchased the 89-acre parcel adjacent to Shenandoah National Park in 1958.
AC44 adopted: PEC’s engagement secures smarter land use planning in Albemarle
Throughout our 50+ year history, PEC has weighed in on comprehensive plan updates across our nine-county service area, an approach that has been foundational to our success conserving and restoring the lands and waters of the Virginia Piedmont.
The friendliest type of energy generation: a conversation on agrivoltaics
PEC’s Senior Energy & Climate Advisor Ashish Kapoor and Community Farm Manager Teddy Pitsiokos sat down to tell us more about PEC’s groundbreaking agrivoltaics project, which has the potential to revolutionize the conversation around solar and agriculture.
General Assembly Snapshot: 2026
The Virginia General Assembly will convene for a 60-day session beginning Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. PEC staff have co-authored several briefing papers that form the framework of the Virginia Conservation Network’s legislative priorities. Below, we break down some of the key issues we are tracking in the upcoming session.
On the Ground Updates — December 2025
A series of short updates from around the PEC region – Albemarle & Charlottesville, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Greene, Loudoun, Madison, Orange & Rappahannock.
President’s Letter: Looking to the Future
One of the most difficult roles that PEC plays is as an organization that anticipates and plans for the future. Imaging scenarios — both positive and negative — is inherently subject to doubt and critique. PEC is unique in our nonpartisan, thoughtful and holistic approach to complex issues facing our communities. Bound only by our mission to protect and restore the lands and waters of the Virginia Piedmont while building stronger, more sustainable communities, we are simultaneously idealistic and pragmatic.
Press Release: Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Should Not Loosen Rules on Data Center Use of Diesel Generators
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has proposed a major change that would allow data centers to run polluting Tier II backup diesel generators during planned outage events, such as during construction projects and grid maintenance, that could last for days or weeks.
Deconstruction and documentation of former Gilberts Corner gas station building to begin Dec. 2
After nearly three years of careful evaluation, The Piedmont Environmental Council has made the difficult but necessary decision to carefully deconstruct the 1927 Gilberts gas station structure at the Gilberts Corner Farmers Market, located at the intersection of U.S. Routes 15 and 50, in the interest of public safety.
Press Release: Piedmont Environmental Council Reacts to SCC Decisions in the Biennial Rate Case
The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) just announced its decision in the historic rate-setting case for Dominion Energy. “While this decision recognizes that data center demand is driving future expenditures – and grants Dominion’s request for a new large load class — many issues remain unresolved,” said PEC President Chris Miller.