On November 14, 2023, PEC hosted a workshop called “Solar on the Farm: Improving Your Ag Operation with On-site Energy.”
Combating Climate Change
Smart growth and development. Land conservation and good land management. Green energy policy and decision-making. These are all areas vital to combatting the effects of global climate change.
2024 General Assembly: Building Bipartisan Support for Conservation
Updates on the conversations taking place in Richmond and a few of the ways PEC is working to support conservation efforts statewide.
PEC Responds to Dominion Energy’s Proposed 2023 Integrated Resource Plan
In September, The Piedmont Environmental Council’s Director of Land Use Julie Bolthouse submitted public comment on Dominion Energy’s proposed Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) as part of case number PUR-2023-00066 before the Virginia State Corporation Commission.
Mitigating Data Center Development’s Impacts
Virginia is home to the largest concentration of data centers in the world, widely cited as hosting 70% of global internet traffic. This massive industry is continuing to grow very fast, requiring huge amounts of energy, land, and water to operate, resulting in widespread community impacts.
Webinar: Solarize Virginia
In this webinar, Local Energy Alliance Program’s (LEAP) Solarize Virginia director Katie VanLangen and Solar Energy World Vice-President of Sales Brian Hacker explain everything you need to know about the Solarize campaign and the nuts-and-bolts of residential solar.
CODE RED: A Call to Action for the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
On July 13, PEC joined The Coalition for Smarter Growth and 39 other organizations from Maryland, D.C. and Virginia in calling on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments to take urgent action on climate change, housing, racial and economic inequity, sprawl and unsustainable transportation.
Our Albemarle Climate Action Platform
In 2022, PEC created a preliminary climate action platform guidance document in support of a climate-ready Albemarle Country. The document summarizes the priority areas where we believe The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) can most advance our mission and support Albemarle County’s mitigation of and preparation for climate impacts.
The recommendations contained in the document directly address climate vulnerabilities and risks as identified through a thorough, scientific assessment of local impacts. Our vision is a County that is sustainable, climate resilient, innovative, equitable, and one that leads by example on inland climate mitigation and adaptation planning.
Presentation on PEC’s Albemarle County climate action and Comprehensive Plan platforms
On June 20, 2023, PEC’s Senior Land Use Field Representative for Albemarle County presented to the Cville100 Climate Alliance on PEC’s AC44 Comprehensive Plan Update platform, which is informed by our Climate Change Platform and 2023-2028 Strategic Plan.
Albemarle County recognized for resilience planning effort
The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) is pleased to congratulate Albemarle County for receiving the Resilient Virginia Community of the Year Honorable Mention in the American Planning Association Virginia Awards Program. The Resilient Virginia Community of the Year category recognizes a community’s commitment to building resilience through responsible planning practice and innovation on real-world solutions to buffer their community from adverse effects stemming from a variety of potential forces.
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.