We are currently focused on several such developments, including Dominion’s purchase of land next to its Morrisville substation, the latest change to Remington Tech Park’s onsite natural gas power plant, a new gas line proposed in the Catlett area, and the revived Gigaland (now Remington Digital) data center application that will come before the Planning Commission next month.
Data Centers
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.
Op-Ed: The Budget Provides a Chance for Real Data Center Reform
No other industry in the state has such a large footprint with so few regulatory hurdles and such a profound impact on the public — with little transparency or public input until deals are done.
Expanded Transmission Line Planned for Southwest Mountains
This text was taken from an email alert sent out on May 12 2026. Sign up for email alerts →
Dear Supporter,
The Southwest Mountains have long been a priority for The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) because of their layers of natural, cultural and historical significance. As data center-fueled infrastructure threatens this area’s unique communities and landscapes, we invite you to a community meeting Wednesday, May 13 to learn more about the proposed Charlottesville-Gordonsville transmission line and how you can make your voice heard.
Charlottesville-Gordonsville Community Meeting
Wednesday, May 13 @ 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Keswick Hunt Club, 626 Hunt Club Road, Keswick
Dominion Energy’s proposal is to wreck and rebuild 20 miles of existing single-circuit 230 kV transmission line between Dominion’s Charlottesville and Gordonsville substations as a double-circuit 230 kV transmission line. This will significantly increase the size of the line and potentially expand the right of way through the Southwest Mountains Rural Historic District and neighborhoods in the Pantops area.
Dominion is framing the upgrade as necessary for “reliability,” but it, and other energy infrastructure expansion across the state, is largely being driven by increased energy demand from data centers.
PEC’s Involvement
Across our nine-county region, PEC is leading the effort to mitigate data center infrastructure projects. Including the Charlottesville-Gordonsville line, we are engaged in 6 transmission projects, more than at any other moment in our history. Understanding the impact of these intensive projects on communities, we are allocating extensive resources to monitor local, state, regional, and federal forums where prospective transmission line projects are proposed and pursued. Our goal is to ensure communities get information about what’s coming and are equipped with information to weigh in knowledgeably about projects throughout the process.
PEC is engaging on this project in several ways:
- In conversations with Dominion Energy and community members, we are advocating for full consideration of alternatives and mitigation of impacts such as:
- undergrounding portions of the line,
- minimizing heights while staying within the existing right of way,
- better design of towers that blend in to setting,
- minimal disturbance during construction, and
- establishing enforceable limits on future expansion.
- Participating in the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) hearing before the SCC.
- Encouraging submission of comments about the line and impacts on communities and properties to the SCC — we need you!
- We anticipate this project to file with the State Corporation Commission any day now.
At the community meeting Wednesday, May 13 PEC staff will present about the Charlottesville-Gordonsville project, how it fits into a broader data-center driven movement, and what you can do about it. RSVP →
Why This Project Matters
Transmission line projects, even those limited to existing rights-of-way, can cause visual impacts from taller towers and poor siting or design selection, construction impacts to nearby rivers, streams, wetlands, and impacts to sensitive ecosystems that support biodiversity, and visual and construction impacts to cultural resources, including archaeological and historical sites, historic buildings and structures and cultural landscapes.
This Charlottesville-Gordonsville project cuts through scores of permanently conserved parcels, the Southwest Mountains Rural Historic District and falls within the Monticello Viewshed Protection Area and the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area, and is proximate the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Scenic Byway along State Routes 22 and 231.
In addition to being highly valued nationally-significant resources, their preservation directly contributes to our region’s tourism industry, which depends heavily on protecting the area’s historic and scenic landscapes — valued at nearly $1 billion annually.
Hope to see you there,
Chris Miller
President
[email protected]
540-347-2334 x7100
New Study Highlights Public Health Impacts of Gas Turbine-Powered Data Centers
As data centers requiring more and more power continue to flood our region, we are seeing a concerning new trend: data center proposals that include onsite natural gas turbines to use as their main power source, as a means of bypassing the long wait to be connected to the electrical grid.
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.
Tell Culpeper Officials to Hold Their Ground: No Bending the Rules for Reckless Development
The Town of Culpeper is once again trying to fast-track data centers with a new code amendment, and the Maroon Solar utility-scale solar project is headed to a Board of Supervisors vote on April 7.
Spring Orange County Updates
The Piedmont Environmental Council’s updates on the Valley Link transmission line, the Town of Orange’s data center changes, data center lawsuit updates, and an April 10 conservation event. Get updates at pecva.org/signup.