Ashish Kapoor has joined the PEC staff to fill the important new role of Senior Energy & Climate Policy Analyst, and we sat down with him recently to learn more about how and why the transformation of our energy system is so important.
Data Centers
Summer 2023 Piedmont View
The summer 2023 edition of the Piedmont View features articles about the PEC’s new strategic plan, an interview with PEC’s Senior Energy and Climate Policy Analyst Ashish Kapoor, the Land Preservation Tax Credit reaching 1 million acres conserved, ‘On the Ground’ reports from across the region, upcoming events, and more!
Amazon Site Development Plan / Zoning Amendment on Overhead Power Lines
Amazon’s site development plan disregards multiple conditions of the special use permit approved in February and contains numerous omissions, deficiencies and errors…
Stevensburg residents shape their future
With the help of local community leaders and organizations, PEC informed the residents of Stevensburg and Brandy Station about the potential impacts of the AttoTek Data Center campus.
Questions Swirl Around Data Centers – How Many, Where and at What Cost?
Although DEQ’s proposed variance for data center diesel generator has been pulled, the underlying issue remains: Is this continued boom in data center development sustainable?
Piedmont Environmental Council Statement on Department of Environmental Quality Variance Withdrawal
The Virginia Department of Environmental Equality’s withdrawal of its proposed variance that would have allowed data centers to circumvent Virginia’s air pollution control regulations limiting the use of heavily polluting, industrial sized, emergency diesel generators is a step in the right direction, and although we’d like to think it’s an indication that DEQ recognizes its waiver would be harmful to human health and the environment, the DEQ notice unfortunately makes it clear that the agency has done the right thing for the wrong reason.
PEC Presentation on Data Centers & Potential Reliance on Backup Diesel Generators
On March 28, 2023, The Piedmont Environmental Council hosted a local information session in Loudoun County about a variance being proposed by The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to allow Loudoun data centers to use their backup diesel generators more frequently during the coming summer.
Update on DEQ’s air quality variance for data centers
The variance would allow backup diesel generators to run more frequently this coming summer.
March 23: Public Hearing on Wilderness Crossing
It is critically important that County decisionmakers hear from you before they vote on this impactful proposal.
Data Centers, Diesel Generators and Air Quality – PEC Web Map
PEC requested the air permits for all of the approximately hundred data center facilities covered under the proposed DEQ variance, including the number of commercial generators per facility. We determined that there are 4,632 commercial diesel generators in total and that these generators have a total capacity of 11.1 gigawatts of power. Our web map displays the data centers locations, as well as nearby schools, nursing homes and low income communities.