Several pieces of legislation have been introduced to reform data center development and protect Virginia ratepayers.
Energy Matters
PEC works toward energy solutions that emphasize efficiency first, use appropriate technologies for the 21st Century and respect the scenic and historic character of the Piedmont.
The 2025 Virginia General Assembly is in Session.
An overview of the topics that PEC has its eye on this session: data center reform, land conservation and public access, solar implementation, housing and local land use authority
Four Pillars of Data Center Reform
Without strong regulatory and legislative intervention, the risks and costs of the immense infrastructure supporting data centers is destined to be passed on to all ratepayers, including other businesses and residents.
Culpeper Co.: December 2024 Updates
This year, we made a concerted effort to better inform the Culpeper community about local events. We have some good news to shhare with you about decisions that were only achieved through strong community engagement.
2024 Highlights: By the Numbers
PEC’s dedicated staff work relentlessly to advance land conservation, sound land use planning, the protection of natural resources and better climate and energy policy.
Better Solar through HB206
A transition to renewable energy is imperative for our planet, and the good news is that Virginia has taken a major step in that direction with the ambitious Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA) passed in 2020. The VCEA requires that Dominion Energy build 16.1 gigawatts (GW) of solar and wind energy in the public interest by 2035 and operate with 100% renewable energy by 2045. Recent studies by the University of Virginia tell us we are well on our way. However, a history of poorly designed solar projects in Virginia have made it clear that utility-scale solar can have significant hidden costs if not done well.
Shining a Light on Agrivoltaics at Roundabout Meadows
This spring, the Piedmont Environmental Council will unveil a project at our Community Farm at Roundabout Meadows with the potential to revolutionize the relationship between the agricultural lands that make up the heart of the Virginia Piedmont and the need for more solar energy capacity across the Commonwealth.
Commission Study Confirms that Energy Demand is Out of Control, Threatening The Community with Higher Costs and Impacts Across the State and Beyond
We applaud the commission’s work over the past year to assess the scope of economic, energy, and environmental impacts due to explosive data center growth. But their analysis of the impact on communities, the environment and the historic and cultural resources is insufficient, and their recommendations don’t match the severity of the impact.
Commentary: Dominion, data centers are fleecing ratepayers
PEC President, Chris Miller, recently wrote an op-ed in the Richmond Times-Dispatch about the energy “crisis by contract” created by Dominion Energy and the data center industry.
Video: Virginia’s Parks and Battlefields are at Risk
Virginia’s state and national parks, battlefields, and other historic and recreational sites are under threat from uncontrolled data center development. One notable example is Wilderness Battlefield, in Orange County, which was named one of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places in 2024 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.