Thanks to everyone who made the sixth annual Active Mobility Summit a success!
Strong Communities
PEC believes that the work of protecting natural resources and the work of building better communities are integral to each other.
Data Centers in the Town of Orange? Protecting Our Small-Town Character
The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) is working closely with residents and town officials to ensure that future development complements, not destroys, the unique character of Orange.
Help Get Data Center Reform Legislation Over the Finish Line!
Take Action: SB619 and SB339 passed the Senate, and we expect the House will start voting on these bills as early as this Tuesday, Feb. 24.
Take Action: HB1122 Would Give More Power to Developers at the Expense of Communities
I’m writing to ask that you take immediate action on a critical bill coming up for a vote in the General Assembly that would limit local governments’ power to manage growth and development in their area, including large projects like data centers.
Virginia General Assembly in Full Swing
Our advocacy team is already hard at work as the 2026 Virginia General Assembly gets underway in Richmond.
Video: “The Hidden Costs of the Cloud: Data Centers and AI in Virginia”
Virginia is undergoing an unprecedented economic, technological, and environmental transformation, all centered around the activities of one industry: data centers.
Loudoun Quarterly Update – Winter 2026
This quarterly Loudoun Update includes information on opportunities to speak up on a Leesburg data center application, submit comments on transmission line planning, support solar net-metering programs, and raise environmental concerns in the Mountainside Overlay District.
Orange County Residents: Demand Commonsense Data Center Regulation
This coming Tuesday, Dec. 16, the Board of Supervisors is likely to vote on a proposed zoning ordinance that does not go far enough to protect the residents and natural resources of the county. We have serious concerns that the proposed “floating zone” approach will cause land speculation across the county, industrialize agricultural areas, and allow developers to build data centers near parks, schools and homes.
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.
Albemarle Comprehensive Plan Adopted!
After four years, 40 PEC action alerts, and many changes to the timeline, the Board of Supervisors adopted the Albemarle County Comprehensive Plan update (AC44) Wednesday, Oct. 15!