The Piedmont News is an email digest of top news stories about conservation, land use, energy, and environmental matters of interest to the region. We hope you’ll share The Piedmont News with someone else who cares about these stories.
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Virginia Mercury
(April 17, 2026)
The Potomac River, otherwise known as “the nation’s river,” has been named the most endangered river in the country, following a massive sewage spill earlier this year and the ongoing buildout of thirsty data centers across the watershed.
Loudoun Now
(April 16, 2026)
Sterling residents are raising concerns over the impacts of a data center that is operating independently from the region’s power grid – making it the county’s first data center with its own microgrid.
The article mentions The Piedmont Environmental Council.
NBC Washington
(April 15, 2026)
Whether it’s daytime or the dead of night, there is no such thing as peace and quiet in this Sterling neighborhood. Here’s why: A Vantage data center there is the only one in Virginia powered by gas turbines.
The piece features an interview with Julie Bolthouse, Director of Land Use at The Piedmont Environmental Council, which commissioned a study on the health impacts of the Vantage Data Center's onsite power generation in Sterling. Read our press release about that study here.
Capital News Service
(April 14, 2026)
State lawmakers will soon return to the Capitol after ending the General Assembly session without a budget, in part due to some debate whether to continue current tax breaks for data centers.
This article quotes Piedmont Environmental Council President Chris Miller.
Loudoun Times-Mirror
(April 13, 2026)
Neighbors have been complaining about a Sterling data center that runs on natural gas turbines, and now a local advocacy group is looking at the potential health risks from pollution from the facility.
The article highlights a study commissioned by The Piedmont Environmental Council and quotes PEC Director of Land Use Julie Bolthouse. Read our press release about that study here.
Culpeper Star-Exponent
(April 17, 2026)
Virginia DEQ with the Virginia Drought Monitoring Task Force on Friday expanded the warning advisory to now include 83 counties and 31 cities, and established new drought watch advisories in 12 counties and 7 cities around the commonwealth. At this time, all localities are under drought watch or warning advisories, according to a release.
The Washington Post
(April 15, 2026)
Data centers enjoyed bipartisan support from Virginians as recently as 2023, but that has flipped to dismay throughout the state, including in regions that are far from the dense cluster of hundreds of facilities outside Washington known as “Data Center Alley.”
NBC Washington
(April 15, 2026)
Rivers around the United States are under growing strain from pollution, development and extreme weather, according to environmental nonprofit American Rivers. Because of those risks, every year, American Rivers puts together a list of "America's Most Endangered Rivers" — and in 2026, the Potomac is at the top of the list.
The Daily Progress
(April 16, 2026)
Between Friday and April 25, 29 Historic Garden Week tours will be offered throughout Virginia, including Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Orange and Staunton.
C-VILLE Weekly
(April 15, 2026)
Since November 2024, a narrow roadway along the banks of the Rivanna River south of Darden Towe Park has been closed to motorized vehicles in order to implement one of the county’s planning visions.
C-VILLE Weekly
(April 15, 2026)
When Charlottesville City Council adopted a new set of zoning rules in December 2023, the idea was to make it easier for developers to construct housing units. That is proving not to be the case for LCD Acquisitions, a company that has filed plans for a seven-story building in Fifeville called The Mark that is allowed under the Residential Mixed Use 5 zoning.
Information Charlottesville
(April 15, 2026)
The Charlottesville Board of Zoning Appeals met on March 19 for a public hearing on a determination by the city’s zoning administrator that a proposed seven-story building in the 200 block of 7th Street NW qualifies as student housing.
The Winchester Star
(April 16, 2026)
Anyone wanting to learn about conservation and plants native to Virginia is invited to a free special event in Clarke County this weekend. Seven Bends Nursery will host a "Primavera Conservation Party" on Moose Road from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Numerous public and private conservation and environmental organizations will have representatives on hand to talk with visitors.
This article mentions The Piedmont Environmental Council.
Fauquier Times
(April 17, 2026)
Local vendors have been hard at work preparing for this year’s flurry of farmers markets across Fauquier County. Dust off your tote bags and get ready to peruse produce and other locally made products while sipping a sweet lemonade. Here are all the farmers markets in and around Fauquier this season
The Piedmont Environmental Council is proud to produce and mail Buy Fresh Buy Local guides to 330,000 households in our nine-county region every other year. Visit our Buy Fresh Buy Local page to download the 2025-2026 print guides and to explore our interactive map of over 580 local food producers and distributors. We thank our many Buy Fresh Buy Local sponsors for their support.
FFX Now
(April 14, 2026)
Officials from the Virginia Department of Health are advising residents not to consume certain species of fish caught in the Occoquan Watershed. Elevated levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) — a manmade chemical used in products ranging from carpet to firefighting foams — have been observed in samples of largemouth bass and bluegill sunfish collected from the waterway, health officials said today (Tuesday).
Fauquier Now
(April 13, 2026)
The Fauquier County Board of Supervisors has adopted two resolutions targeted at Dominion Energy, one asking for underground transmission lines instead of overhead and the other seeking increased transparency from the Virginia Electric and Power Company.
Fauquier Times
(April 13, 2026)
Not that long ago, humans relied on the stars. The stars of distant galaxies were used for navigation, to track agricultural cycles and to pass stories from one generation to the next.
That all changed with electricity, which stretched our days and illuminated our nights, often blotting out the dark skies above.
Fauquier Times
(April 10, 2026)
The Fauquier County Board of Supervisors has two messages for Dominion Energy: they want the utility to create a list of their biggest consumers and to bury high voltage transmission lines instead of building them overhead.
The Piedmont Journal Recorder
(April 15, 2026)
Greene County officials have issued a countywide burn ban, effective Wednesday at 11 a.m., due to increased wildfire risk across the region.
The ban prohibits all open-air fires, including campfires, brush fires, burn barrels, and bonfires, until further notice.
Loudoun Now
(April 17, 2026)
The Aspen substation is proposed to be built along Cochran Mill Road near its intersection with Crosstrail Boulevard next to an existing substation. It would serve as a starting point for the Apsen to Golden transmission line that was approved by the State Corporation Commission in 2024 and is part of the reliability loop. The W&OD Trail runs directly next to the site.
Loudoun Now
(April 16, 2026)
More than 50 speakers turned out for a Board of Supervisors public hearing Wednesday night to share their thoughts on plans for a 1 million-square-foot industrial flex warehouse development planned near Purcellville by JK Land Holdings.
The project, known as Valley Commerce Center, would be built along Purcellville Road on the north side of the Rt. 7 bypass, just outside Purcellville’s town limits.
Loudoun Now
(April 15, 2026)
This year’s Scrape for the Grape campaign hit new records drawing in over 1,100 volunteers who spent three weekends destroying more than 10.3 million lanternfly eggs.
Loudoun Times-Mirror
(April 10, 2026)
Virginia's State Corporation Commission has approved an overhead route for the Golden to Mars transmission line. Now, the Loudoun County School Board has a decision to make. "It is the Commission's sincere hope, however, that LCSB not choose to block the route that best serves the total public interest," the SCC wrote.
Loudoun Now
(April 10, 2026)
Loudoun's leaders say they’re disappointed by yesterday’s State Corporation Commission approval of an application to build overhead transmission lines through eastern half of the county. Dominion proposed multiple overhead routes for consideration by the SCC, but all of them have been opposed by area residents and the Loudoun County School Board amid concerns about impacts to property values, health, the environment and quality of life.
Loudoun Times-Mirror
(April 9, 2026)
Virginia’s State Corporation Commission approved Dominion Energy’s Golden to Mars transmission line application on April 9, a highly anticipated decision in a case that mobilized hundreds of Loudoun Valley Estates residents in recent months.
Loudoun Now
(April 9, 2026)
After a year of public meetings, hearings, and packed boardrooms, the State Corporation Commission judges this afternoon handed down a ruling granting a request to build new high voltage transmission lines through eastern Loudoun County and rejecting a counterproposal to bury a portion of them underground.
Culpeper Star-Exponent
(April 17, 2026)
Following continued conditions ripe for wildfires, Madison and Orange counties have enacted burn bans. With the local bans, open burning is prohibited in Orange and Madison. Contained outdoor fires, such as those in fire pits or grills, are not restricted but must be attended at all times and fully extinguished before being left unattended.
Culpeper Star-Exponent
(April 17, 2026)
Following continued conditions ripe for wildfires, Madison and Orange counties have enacted burn bans. With the local bans, open burning is prohibited in Orange and Madison. Contained outdoor fires, such as those in fire pits or grills, are not restricted but must be attended at all times and fully extinguished before being left unattended.
The Daily Progress
(April 16, 2026)
Between Friday and April 25, 29 Historic Garden Week tours will be offered throughout Virginia, including Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Orange and Staunton.
Culpeper Star-Exponent
(April 16, 2026)
A legal challenge to the 2,600-acre Wilderness Crossing private development in eastern Orange County remains in legal limbo nearly three years after a historic coalition filed a civil lawsuit against the Board of Supervisors. The project at Virginia 3 and Virginia 20 proposes thousands of new homes along with industrial and commercial development, including Amazon data centers.
This article quotes Piedmont Environmental Council President Chris Miller.
Connection Newspapers
(April 14, 2026)
Carter Farms is a historic century farm in the Piedmont region, Unionville, in Orange County, Virginia. The farm specializes in growing ethnic, African tropical vegetables organically. Michael Carter Jr., an 11th-generation American farmer, is the fifth generation to work at Carter Farms, where he leads workshops on growing and marketing ethnic vegetables.
This article mentions The Piedmont Environment Council.
FFX Now
(April 14, 2026)
Officials from the Virginia Department of Health are advising residents not to consume certain species of fish caught in the Occoquan Watershed. Elevated levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) — a manmade chemical used in products ranging from carpet to firefighting foams — have been observed in samples of largemouth bass and bluegill sunfish collected from the waterway, health officials said today (Tuesday).
InsideNoVa
(April 14, 2026)
The Prince William Board of County Supervisors on Tuesday formally withdrew from appeals of the PW Digital Gateway lawsuit after spending $1.72 million in taxpayer funds to defend legal challenges to the controversial data center project.
The Winchester Star
(April 13, 2026)
The application seeks to rezone three parcels totaling 220.06-acres south of Rest Church Road for a proposed development, called Virginia Technology Park. The proposal calls for 10 data center buildings and three substation pads, according to a generalized development plan in the rezoning application.
WHSV
(April 10, 2026)
A proposed data center project on an 80-plus acre parcel in Strasburg’s Industrial Park is prompting community debate, with residents raising questions online about potential environmental impacts and possible economic benefits.
FFX Now
(April 14, 2026)
Officials from the Virginia Department of Health are advising residents not to consume certain species of fish caught in the Occoquan Watershed. Elevated levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) — a manmade chemical used in products ranging from carpet to firefighting foams — have been observed in samples of largemouth bass and bluegill sunfish collected from the waterway, health officials said today (Tuesday).
Richmond BizSense
(April 17, 2026)
The Hanover Planning Commission on Thursday voted 6-1 to endorse a proposal by Denver-based company Tract to rezone nearly 430 acres for a data center development at 13074 Mountain Road and 12517 Winns Church Road.
Virginia Mercury
(April 16, 2026)
Spanberger suggested sweeping alterations to Senate Bill 253 and House Bill 1393, sponsored by Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, and Del. Destiny LeVere Bolling, D-Henrico, measures designed to shift more costs onto data centers to save residential electricity customers money and expand a power line burial program.
Virginia Mercury
(April 16, 2026)
Accessory dwelling units — which could be a tiny house on another home’s lot, a garage-turned-apartment, a carriage house, or an ‘in-law suite’ — will be easier to build beginning next year, following Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s signature of a new law this week.
Loudoun Now
(April 15, 2026)
Intended to provide a way to mitigate impacts from the Golden to Mars transmission line project, proposed by Dominion Energy, on eastern Loudoun residents, SB 827 and HB 1487 authorize the State Corporation Commission to approve applications for projects to be buried entirely or in part. However, a ruling from the State Corporation Commission last week determined burying lines at this location is not feasible.
Virginia Mercury
(April 13, 2026)
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger has joined seven other governors in the PJM Interconnection territory in pushing the regional grid operator to adopt policies and regulations that help shield ratepayers from shouldering the cost of increased power demand largely driven by data centers.
Fauquier Times
(April 13, 2026)
After years of false starts, the General Assembly took its first steps this session to rein in the sprawling data center industry, passing measures that shield consumers from rising electricity bills while empowering local officials to review the environmental impact of new projects.
Loudoun Times-Mirror
(April 10, 2026)
A fact sheet from the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin says that data centers currently have a “modest but variable” impact on water supply in the Washington, D.C., region. The concern here is in summer and early fall, when data centers use more water, river flows are lower and people are watering their lawns more.
Broadband Breakfast
(April 10, 2026)
A Virginia data center project has become the first to enter a federal permitting program designed to speed up approvals for major infrastructure developments.
WTVR
(April 10, 2026)
Four Goochland County residents are suing their county government over a newly created Technology Overlay District (TOD) that allows data centers to be built near neighborhoods.
Richmond Times-Dispatch
(April 9, 2026)
Goochland's board of supervisors says it opposes a plan by Dominion Energy and others to build a 115-mile, high-voltage electric line through central Virginia. The Valley Link transmission line would provide a more reliable grid, as data centers, a growing population and electric vehicles accelerate the demand for electric power.
Data Center Knowledge
(April 16, 2026)
According to Data Center Watch, $18 billion in data center projects have been successfully halted, and another $46 billion has been delayed over the past two years due to opposition from residents and activist groups.
Capital B
(April 15, 2026)
The NAACP is suing Elon Musk’s xAI for allegedly skirting permits and running gas turbines that are spewing formaldehyde and smog‑forming pollution into Black communities already scoring failing grades for air quality.
Wired
(April 15, 2026)
The US federal government’s central energy information agency is planning to implement a mandatory nationwide survey of data centers focused on their energy use, according to a letter seen by WIRED. This survey would be the first effort of its type to collect basic information about data centers.
The Wall Street Journal
(April 14, 2026)
U.S. utilities are planning a historic investment spree to patch up an aging power grid and meet rising electricity demand for the artificial-intelligence boom. The plans could trigger additional requests for rate increases at a time when rising power costs and affordability concerns have become a bipartisan political concern.
The Oregonian
(April 14, 2026)
Enormous data centers are changing the landscape in small communities across Oregon. In The Dalles, residents of the riverfront community are wondering if Google is also changing their weather. Steam venting from cooling towers on Google’s local data centers sometimes collects along the Columbia River on chilly mornings and may be a bigger issue for pilots flying in and out of the Columbia Gorge Regional Airport.
The Wall Street Journal
(April 12, 2026)
The artificial intelligence gold rush is rapidly drying up the supply of the one resource that AI developers can’t do without: computing power.
Pew
(April 12, 2026)
A broad majority of Americans have heard about data centers – the often-sprawling computing facilities that are popping up nationwide.
But the public has mixed opinions about data centers’ impact in various areas, according to a new Pew Research Center survey.
Inside Climate News
(April 10, 2026)
Tax breaks for data centers in North Carolina keep as much as $57 million each year from state and local government coffers, state figures show, an amount that could balloon to billions of dollars if all the proposed projects are built.
Inside Climate News
(April 6, 2026)
High costs, crowding and less-than-ideal land conditions make geothermal installations in downstate New York difficult—but not impossible.
