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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Silly Walks - A Green Heron steps and scratches as he eases under a spiderweb, at Beaver Creek, Albemarle County |
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Bay Journal
(June 18, 2026)
Snapping turtles look and live much like their ancestors did about 90 million years ago. Nine species survived the great extinction that killed off dinosaurs 65 million years ago. But by 2 million years ago, only two remained: the common and alligator snapping turtles, which are native only to North America.
The Piedmont Journal Recorder
(June 18, 2026)
Local officials across Central and Northern Virginia delivered a blunt message in Greene County on Tuesday: stop shifting costs to counties while taking away their power to decide what gets built.
The New York Times
(June 17, 2026)
The heartbeat of the artificial intelligence economy sounds like a low-frequency thrum of a neighbor’s central air-conditioning unit, an airplane flying overhead at high altitude or a truck engine idling down the road. But it feels like the vibrating, rhythmic pulse of a subwoofer from a party that will never end.
The People's Defender
(June 17, 2026)
In a recent article, Joel Salatin, a Virginia farmer and a columnist for The Epoch Times, challenges the assumption that residential or commercial development would be the “highest and best use” for open land, productive farms and forests, which enjoy lower property taxes. He claims that the opposite is true, and he brings the receipts.
This article mentions The Piedmont Environmental Council.
Fauquier Now
(June 17, 2026)
Agrivoltaics, now with its official definition in the state, is the “intentional co-location of agricultural production and solar energy generation on the same land.” It is designed with a “farmer-first” mindset while also allowing for increased renewable energy generation. The bill-signing event was held at the Piedmont Environmental Council's community farm in Aldie.
This article highlights The Piedmont Environmental Council's role in authoring the new legislation, and quotes PEC Senior Energy and Climate Advisor Ashish Kapoor.
Morning AgClips
(June 15, 2026)
It’s common knowledge that ticks can spread infections that cause serious illnesses, including Lyme disease. Now health officials are trying to raise awareness of a lesser-known problem: a life-threatening allergy to meat triggered by tick bites.
Newsweek
(June 13, 2026)
On some days, she said, the existing infrastructure is already noticeable. “If you’re sitting out on your back deck trying to eat your meal or just hang out, you can hear it,” she said, describing a buzzing sound from the lines. “You work all day, and you come home, and you can’t even get three hours of peace and quiet,” she told Newsweek. “At 2:30 in the morning, they’re gonna be out here.”
The Daily Progress
(June 13, 2026)
America's oldest wine country is not in the Napa Valley or the Finger Lakes. It's in Virginia. But winemaking did not immediately take off in the Old Dominion, despite the efforts of the Founding Fathers who poured their blood, sweat and tears into it. It took another 200 years after the nation's founding before Virginia wine as it is known today truly took off.
The Daily Progress
(June 13, 2026)
In America's earliest days, cider was the go-to drink for the very richest and very poorest. 250 years on, America still loves cider and Virginia produces some of its very best. Cider is such a central part of Virginia's history and culture that Alistair Reece found orchards, presses and individual bottles of cider being passed down in wills dating back to pre-colonial times.
Bay Journal
(June 12, 2026)
As our landscape finally explodes with blossoms and flowers of all shapes and colors, it also explodes with some of our most interesting pollinators, includingruby-throated hummingbirds and butterflies. But there’s another pollinator group that works so hard collecting nectar and pollen you can hear them: bumblebees.
Charlottesville Tomorrow
(June 11, 2026)
Valley Link representatives say route changes for a proposed high-voltage transmission line that would cut through more than 100 miles of mostly agricultural and forested land from Campbell to Culpeper County in central Virginia have been implemented in response to community feedback, but some community members say they’re not so sure Valley Link is listening.
Richmond Times-Dispatch
(June 7, 2026)
Right now, the General Assembly must take the commonsense, responsible action they should have taken years ago: pause data center development and come up with a plan. No other industry has been allowed to plow through entire regions and take land and livelihoods from citizens without serious consideration and compensation. It is the biggest land grab in state history.
This Op-Ed was authored by Piedmont Environmental Council President Christopher Miller.
Richmond Times-Dispatch
(June 17, 2026)
House Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, says Senate Finance Chair Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, has sparked "a civil war among Democrats" by publicly attacking him and Gov. Abigail Spanberger in an escalating budget battle that could leave Virginia without a way to run state government on July 1. The impasse over the tax exemption has left budget negotiators unable to meet as a group for more than three months until a meeting scheduled on Tuesday.
Fauquier Times
(June 16, 2026)
A standing-room-only crowd flooded a hotel conference room in Manassas Monday night to send state lawmakers a clear message: End the nearly $2 billion-a-year tax break for data centers.
The town hall was part of state Sen. Louise Lucas’ “Data Center Listening Tour.” With just two weeks until the June 30 deadline to adopt a state budget, Lucas organized the town hall so other state lawmakers can understand what Virginians want.
This article quotes Piedmont Environmental Council Land Use Director Julie Bolthouse.
Fauquier Now
(June 15, 2026)
As federal funding constraints continue to strain operations at Shenandoah National Park, officials with the Shenandoah National Park Trust say they are increasingly stepping in to help preserve programs that support the park's long-term health.
Bay Journal
(June 12, 2026)
Four decades ago, populations of the river otter, a playful, whiskered member of the weasel family, were so depleted that most states in the Chesapeake Bay region considered them endangered. Today, the species known for its fondness of clean water is turning up throughout the Bay watershed, including seemingly unlikely places.
Information Charlottesville
(June 18, 2026)
Albemarle County planning staff are currently reviewing locations that will be the first subjects of an “activity center plan” to help implement a Comprehensive Plan goal.
Information Charlottesville
(June 18, 2026)
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville purchased the Southwood Mobile Home Park in October 2007 and has spent many years working with residents on a plan to design a new community without displacing existing residents. Nine years later on October 5, the Albemarle Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution enshrining a “collaborative redevelopment process” for the Southwood Community.
Charlottesville Tomorrow
(June 18, 2026)
Tuesday evening, the city’s Board of Architectural Review (BAR) issued a certificate of appropriateness for an eight-story building of luxury student apartments located at 835, 843 and 847 West Main St., near the Drewary Brown Bridge, despite months of vocal opposition from community members, particularly residents of the city’s oldest public housing community, which stands to be literally overshadowed by the building.
The Daily Progress
(June 16, 2026)
lans for a data center the University of Virginia has proposed at its Fontaine Research Park in Albemarle County has grown to three floors, now pushing the total price tag of the facility to $102 million.
The Winchester Star
(June 17, 2026)
A proposed extra high voltage electrical transmission line could significantly harm Clarke County's rural and historic character, say county officials, who are encouraging residents to attend an upcoming public meeting to learn about plans for the line and voice their opinions.
The Winchester Star
(June 15, 2026)
A rezoning request that would enable a proposed 134-home subdivision to be developed in northeast Berryville is now in the Town Council's hands. The council has scheduled a special meeting at 3:30 p.m. June 29 to examine the proposal as a group and hear from the developers about it.
Clarke County Education Foundation
(June 15, 2026)
Launched in the spring of 2026, this program successfully brought high-impact, hands-on environmental literacy lessons to all third-grade students across Clarke County Public Schools (CCPS), culminating in student-led Action Projects.
This article highlights The Piedmont Environmental Council's partnership in this program.
Culpeper Star-Exponent
(June 13, 2026)
As America celebrates its semiquincentennial this year, so does this Rixeyville institution, which recently launched the Commons at Little Fork Church, a community-focused shared space designed to integrate nature, history and the arts on the soul-soothing grounds of the historic 1776 church.
Culpeper Times
(June 9, 2026)
The Culpeper County Board of Supervisors voted June 2 to submit a letter prepared by the Richardsville Coalition to PJM Interconnection opposing a proposed scope change to the Joshua Falls–Yeat 765-kilovolt transmission project and a planned substation in the Richardsville area.
Fauquier Times
(June 18, 2026)
A proposal to build a privately owned swimming facility in Brookside was shot down in a unanimous vote by the Fauquier County Planning Commission Thursday night after residents voiced concerns that the facility would be too close to homes and bring unwanted traffic and activity into their community.
Fauquier Times
(June 17, 2026)
Fauquier County, along with 93 other counties across Virginia, is under a drought warning advisory, meaning “the onset of a significant drought event is imminent.” A drought warning comes after a drought watch and before a drought emergency.
Fauquier Times
(June 16, 2026)
The developers of Gigaland, a controversial proposal to bring more data centers near Remington, are offering several Fauquier County nonprofits grants as much as $1 million – an amount one organization’s leader called “transformational.” But the grant contract says the money is tied to the project moving forward.
This article mentions The Piedmont Environmental Council.
Fauquier Times
(June 16, 2026)
After months of pushback over expected noise and polluting emissions from a proposed gas plant with 13 gas-fired turbines, Remington Technology Park is looking to switch to natural gas fuel cells, a cleaner and less noisy alternative.
This article quotes Piedmont Enviornmental Council Land Use Representative Evelyn Eichorn.
Fauquier Times
(June 14, 2026)
Earlier this week, the Fauquier County Board of Supervisors approved a rezoning for Belvoir Ridge, a planned industrial park in Marshall that sparked controversy over its proximity to Mountainside Montessori School. The consultant handling the application said a buyer has signed a contract to purchase the property, but could not say what for. That lack of information has helped fuel questions and concerns about the project.
Loudoun Now
(June 17, 2026)
Plans by the new owners of the Middleburg Manor events center to add a 40-room inn and a restaurant are raising concerns among neighbors. The 34-acre property is located along Rt. 50 east of Middleburg. It includes a 7,800-square-foot event center along with an enclosed riding arena and stables. The property was sold in December for $7.9 million.
Loudoun Now
(June 17, 2026)
In her first visit to Loudoun since being elected as Virginia’s governor, Abigail Spanberger gathered at the Piedmont Environmental Council’s community farm in Aldie to sign bills defining agrivoltaics, a technology she said is one piece of the energy puzzle facing the state now.
This article highlights The Piedmont Environmental Council's role in forming the new legislation and quotes PEC's Senior Energy and Climate Advisor Ashish Kapoor.
Loudoun Times-Mirror
(June 15, 2026)
Data centers have backup generators for emergency power, and one campus in Sterling is running on natural gas turbines. That’s sparked conversations among residents, lawmakers and researchers about potential air quality issues. So, DEQ wants to see if data center-dense areas need more monitoring.
Loudoun Times-Mirror
(June 11, 2026)
Loudoun County is set to receive millions of state dollars through 2032 to improve and maintain its unpaved rural roads. An estimated $11.7 million of VDOT grant funding is planned for Loudoun over the next six years, with $1.87 million planned for Fiscal Year 2027. It’s part of the state’s Secondary Road Six-Year Plan.
Blue Ridge Leader
(June 9, 2026)
When Vicky Hu purchased her home in Loudoun Valley Estates 25 years ago, the wooded backyard along a stream valley lined with mature trees and protected green space was one of the reasons she chose it. Today, that same landscape sits within the path of a proposed Dominion Energy transmission line project that could bring 185-foot transmission structures within yards of her home.
The Rapidan Register
(June 13, 2026)
It was a mixed bag at last week’s joint Madison County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors meeting with one special use permit approved and another denied. A new cooking school will be opening in an existing property on Madison Mills Lane. Residents voiced concerns about outdoor events, lighting, parking and the amount of people onsite.
The Piedmont Journal Recorder
(June 8, 2026)
On June 1, the president of Madison County African American Historical Association provided keynote remarks at the annual chamber of commerce business appreciation dinner, where she tied the county’s heritage to future economic growth. The presentation underscored how understanding historical narratives can strengthen identity, foster pride, and drive meaningful investment in local resources and heritage tourism.
Culpeper Star-Exponent
(June 16, 2026)
June is National Dairy Month, and a good way to celebrate is by drinking milk featuring Orange County dairy farmer Molly Elgin McWilliams. Appearing on Maola's new strawberry whole milk, the packaging spotlight reflects a growing consumer interest in knowing the people behind their food.
WVTF
(June 16, 2026)
Every day, wastewater plants around the country treat sewage and release clean water. What remains is a controversial substance. “Biosolids is a polite term for treated sewage sludge. It’s basically inexpensive fertilizer.” But PEC's Rob McGinnis says biosolids contain toxic metals, pharmaceuticals and forever chemicals or PFAS linked to cancer, birth defects and other problems in humans.
This article quotes Piedmont Environmental Council Land Use Field Representative Rob McGinnis.
The Rapidan Register
(June 8, 2026)
The case stems from an April 2023 decision by the Orange County Supervisors to rezone more than 2,600 acres of land in the eastern end of the county, for a variety of uses with up to 5,000 residential units and 732 acres of industrial use, along with commercial use and possibly data centers. According to court records, a three-day trial has been scheduled for Feb. 22-24.
This article mentions The Piedmont Environmental Council.
Rappahannock News
(June 18, 2026)
The Town of Washington’s Architectural Review Board voted unanimously Monday to approve a renovation of 353 Main St., the former site of Wine Loves Chocolate that is now being leased by The Inn at Little Washington. The inn has not yet determined the building's future use.
InsideNoVa
(June 16, 2026)
“I’m confident we’re gonna get a deal,” Roem said. “We have to get a deal. No one wants a government shutdown, I certainly don’t. And at the same time, it’s just – you just saw the room tonight. We’ve got to give to the people a budget that reflects the priorities of Virginia – and the priorities of western Prince William County and the greater Manassas area [are] no more data center sales tax exemption.”
The article mentions Piedmont Environmental Council President Chris Miller.
InsideNoVa
(June 15, 2026)
The Prince William Board of County Supervisors is likely to consider by early fall a board-initiated zoning text amendment that would substantially reduce the county’s Data Center Opportunity Zone Overlay District and end by-right data center development entirely. If passed, the amendment would take effect in late 2026 or early 2027, according to a county staffer familiar with the proceedings, but there is no official timeline as of yet.
WJLA-ABC7News
(June 15, 2026)
The seemingly never-ending tug of war between Northern Virginia residents and data center companies has spilled over into Richmond, as the Virginia General Assembly is now working against the clock to settle the debate over tax breaks for these facilities that has become a sticking point in the current budget stalemate.
E&E News
(June 17, 2026)
“Governor, read the damn room,” Lucas said Monday to a standing ovation from about 200 attendees at her listening tour’s stop in Manassas, where developers have sought to build a massive data center project near a Civil War battlefield. Lucas argued that the public would blame Spanberger for a state government shutdown...
29 News
(June 17, 2026)
While Deeds says none of the details have been finalized yet, the Senate’s new budget proposal no longer requires an elimination of the sales and use tax exemption for data centers, the sticking point that’s been at the center of the months-long stalemate. Instead, the state would levy an “impact fee,” or a tax on each data center based on its backup diesel generators.
This news segment features an interview with Piedmont Environmental Council Land Use Director Julie Bolthouse.
13 News Now
(June 17, 2026)
The organizations are urging lawmakers to adopt additional safeguards, including requirements for data centers to secure clean energy resources, limit the use of fossil fuel-powered backup systems and reduce water consumption in areas facing water shortages.
VPM
(June 17, 2026)
A coalition of Virginia’s tribal nations is rallying to protect what they describe as one of the most significant Indigenous sites in the commonwealth’s history — a place deeply tied to the origins of Chief Wahunsenacawh, more commonly known as Chief Powhatan.
Morning AgClips
(June 17, 2026)
A formal definition for agrivoltaics, which integrates solar energy into agricultural production, is critically important to pave the way for well-developed, properly sited agrivoltaics across Virginia. This bill is one of 12 solution-oriented energy bills PEC either authored, informed or advocated for in the General Assembly that have been signed into law.
This article highlights The Piedmont Environmental Council's role in authoring the new legislation and quotes PEC Senior Energy and Climate Advisor Ashish Kapoor.
Virginia Mercury
(June 16, 2026)
Leaders in the House of Delegates are continuing to tweak their version of a state budget, but they aren’t backing down from their fight with the Senate over data centers. What they are backing down from is their former insistence that data centers use clean energy. Instead, they propose to punt this and every other data center issue over to a commission.
The Virginian-Pilot
(June 16, 2026)
Beyond electricity use, noise and industry tax breaks, there’s another equally important, largely underexamined angle to the data center growth story — the centers consume at least 2 billion gallons of water a year, two-thirds of it from drinking water supplies, and there’s inadequate testing of the chemical content of the resulting wastewater discharged into municipal and county treatment systems and waterways.
Inside Climate News
(June 15, 2026)
One of the world’s most profitable technology companies could be abandoning an ambitious clean-energy goal in Virginia as it races to build electricity-hungry data centers.
Virginia Mercury
(June 15, 2026)
With a June 30 deadline looming before a state government shutdown, Virginia legislators have released new budget proposals, the latest actions in a long-simmering debate over the state spending plan that has deadlocked over whether data centers should keep being exempt from the state’s sales and use tax.
Virginia Mercury
(June 14, 2026)
Speaker of the House of Delegates Don Scott, flanked by Appropriations Chair Del. Luke Torian, D-Prince William, and other bipartisan house members, unveiled the chamber’s latest budget proposal in Richmond on Friday, which they framed as a “compromise package” that they urged the state Senate to accept.The updated spending plan no longer includes environmental standards data centers would need to meet in order to be exempted from the state’s sales and use tax.
WHRO
(June 12, 2026)
Facing unprecedented demand for energy in Virginia, officials have been searching for quick and creative ways to get more power on the grid. One of Dominion Energy’s latest initiatives, prompted by state lawmakers, would draw on a collection of the state’s smallest energy resources, some of which could be sitting in your home.
WVTF
(June 11, 2026)
The law requires local water authorities to report data center water usage. The numbers will be available on the Department of Environmental Quality's website, and it’ll be aggregated, comparing data centers versus some of the industries Srinivasan mentioned. “We’re going to have credible numbers reported by the local utilities on a simple website anyone can access,” Srinivasan told Radio IQ.
CleanTechnica
(June 19, 2026)
Peace between solar developers and farmers is possible through the emerging field of agrivoltaics, in which crops share space with solar panels. Though losing some field space, the farmer gets a reliable income from a new kind of energy crop, while continuing to stay in the business of raising plants instead of going bankrupt or selling the land for real estate development.
This article mentions The Piedmont Environmental Council.
Bloomberg
(June 18, 2026)
Long queues to get connected to the strained energy grid have sent data centers scrambling for ways to get power fast — from hauling in natural gas turbines to revamping how data centers are designed. Verse Enterprises Inc., a San Francisco-based startup, says its software can help data centers skip the line by managing off-grid batteries and solar.
Utility Dive
(June 17, 2026)
NextEra Energy has agreed to pay $150 million to settle allegations that the company lied about its involvement in political interference schemes in Florida, according to a proposed settlement filed Monday in a federal court. The agreement comes about a month after NextEra and Dominion Energy said they planned to merge in a $67 billion deal.
Morning AgClips
(June 16, 2026)
Coalition report details mounting risks to farms, food systems and rural communities across the Northeast. The white paper highlights how climate disasters are creating compounding impacts across the food system, including crop losses, land and labor loss, supply chain disruption and an ongoing farmer mental health crisis.
Morning AgClips
(June 16, 2026)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is putting farmers first and reaffirming this commitment by updating its strategic priorities, motto and mission and vision statements for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
