PEC’s Senior Energy & Climate Advisor Ashish Kapoor and Community Farm Manager Teddy Pitsiokos sat down to tell us more about PEC’s groundbreaking agrivoltaics project, which has the potential to revolutionize the conversation around solar and agriculture.
Our Work
Safeguarding the landscapes, communities and heritage of the Piedmont by involving citizens in public policy and land conservation. Learn more about our work by browsing the subject areas below and find out how to get involved!
Orange County Proposes New “Technology” Zoning District
The Orange County Planning Commission is poised to recommend a draft ordinance establishing a Technology zoning district intended to accommodate – and minimize the adverse impacts of – data centers. The county is considering many of the right questions; however, it must also consider some significant unintended consequences of a well-intentioned proposal.
Additional Transmission Lines Proposed to Serve Data Centers
There is another opportunity right now to share your input on an important issue impacting our region. We hope you will take a few minutes before Monday, Dec. 8 to voice your concerns and opinions on proposals for yet more massive transmission lines to serve data centers.
2025 Impact Report
Thank you for taking a moment to read about PEC’s achievements across our region and throughout our programs this year. We could not do this work without your support and your commitment, so thank you for giving generously and engaging in the future of your community!
Proposed Increase to Data Center Diesel Generator Use
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is currently accepting comments on a proposed change that would allow data centers to run backup diesel generators during planned outage events. Until now, these generators could only be used in the case of “sudden and reasonably unforeseeable events” or maintenance.
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!
The Fight to Stop Dominion’s Attack on Small-Scale Solar – Webinar Recording
On October 21, Solar United Neighbors hosted a webinar on Dominion Energy’s proposal to severely limit net metering. PEC’s Senior Energy & Climate Policy Advisor, Ashish Kapoor, shared findings from our new Value of Solar report.
Halloween Costume Bike Promotes Safety on the Roads
Around 30 riders decorated their bikes, dressed up as extra-terrestrials, supernatural beings, cartoons and food items, and enjoyed a November evening of biking around Charlottesville.
Fauquier Fall Updates 2025
We’ll touch on VDOT’s proposed I-66 bridge expansion at historic and iconic Thoroughfare Gap, the transition point into the rural Piedmont, at the beloved Chapman-Beverley Mill. Then, very impactful to all of us, we’ll talk about various power infrastructure and data center projects across the county.
Op-Ed: Protect Virginians from paying billions for data center infrastructure
Billions of dollars of new power generation and transmission infrastructure is needed to meet data center demand. As of now, all of Virginia’s ratepayers are on the hook to pay for this through their electric bills.