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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Bay Journal
(May 29, 2026)
The wood turtle is colorful, considered intelligent, can breathe out its butt and, for a turtle, is relatively fast — able to move at the blistering speed of 0.2 miles per hour.
WVTF
(May 28, 2026)
Over the last decade, Virginia lost about 500,000 acres of farmland to developers, and experts say we could lose even more. That’s why two non-profits have teamed up to save family farms and to ensure that the next generation can afford to produce local food and jobs.
This article highlights The Piedmont Environmental Council's land conservation work.
Middleburg Life
(May 28, 2026)
Scenic Virginia is announces a call for nominations for Virginia’s Treasured Views — a science-based, community-informed program designed to identify, assess, map, and catalog the views that define Virginia’s landscapes and sense of place. The call for nominations opens May 13 and closes June 30.
The Piedmont Environmental Council is a partner with Scenic Virginia in this program, and this article quotes PEC Senior Advisor John McCarthy.
Fauquier Times
(May 27, 2026)
The merger would create a company with the size and capital to generate enough power — and build enough transmission infrastructure — to address the unprecedented energy demand of Virginia's booming data center industry.
Bay Journal
(May 27, 2026)
It’s May, and all around us nature is exploding! As the landscape greens up and trees and flowers blossom, there is an eruption of worms, spiders and insects. And right on their heels are birds, many of which migrate at regular times of the year, often over long distances.
The Piedmont Journal Recorder
(May 26, 2026)
Despite the past six days of rain, the region and much of Virginia remain in draught conditions. A lack of rain in early spring can have significant and widespread negative effects on plants, animals, and other living things, causing both immediate stress and long-term population changes.
Virginia Mercury
(May 25, 2026)
The future of data centers and their huge appetite for electricity is quickly escalating as a political flashpoint from coast to coast, moving from cities and states now to the nation’s capital. But finding consensus on how to proceed in D.C. is tough, with the industry spreading around millions to make its case, some lawmakers pushing a moratorium, and others looking for ways to ease the burden on Americans without halting development.
Daily Kos
(May 24, 2026)
Let me make you an offer. I want to build a warehouse of machinery that will fill the ears of every passerby with the soft whine of industrial noise, will drink up your water reserves so much it lowers the pressure in your shower, and will jack up your utility bills—if not force your town to risk losing its access to electricity altogether—all in support of a technology expected to cost millions of Americans their jobs. In return, my warehouse will hypothetically provide you with significant tax revenue, though you will need to give me a 90% tax abatement for the next 20 years.
WRIC
(May 28, 2026)
Valley Link has released three updated route options for its controversial transmission line project as preservation and environmental groups warn the proposal could threaten historic and natural resources across Central Virginia.
This story mentions The Piedmont Environmental Council, quotes PEC President Chris Miller, and includes footage from our recent press conference.
Culpeper Star-Exponent
(May 26, 2026)
On the same day the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors met with Dominion to discuss the project, Preservation Virginia named the nine-county corridor targeted for Valley Link’s Joshua Falls-Yeat to its list of Virginia’s Most Endangered Historic Places for 2026. If approved by the SCC, transmission towers and lines will stretch across mostly greenfield sites rich in historical and cultural resources, sensitive environmental resources, and treasured scenic viewsheds.
The Cool Down
(May 22, 2026)
A $1 billion power line proposal tied to Virginia's booming data center industry is drawing fierce backlash from rural residents who are being asked to give up farms, forests, and family land for electricity they will not directly benefit from. According to 7News, Valley Link, partly owned by Dominion Energy, is proposing a 765-kilovolt transmission line running from Lynchburg to Culpeper County, along with an 88-acre substation in Culpeper.
The Daily Progress
(May 27, 2026)
Above decades’ worth of buried trash at the capped Ivy Landfill, more than 7,200 solar panels are now feeding electricity into Dominion Energy’s grid, enough to power up to 750 residences at peak output. It is Dominion Energy's first solar project built on a closed landfill in Virginia.
C-VILLE Weekly
(May 27, 2026)
“The Affordable Housing Investment Fund was created in 2019 with the intention to fund projects that created or preserved affordable housing in several forms, including rental units and home ownership,” said Kaki Dimock at the May 20 Board of Supervisors meeting.
C-VILLE Weekly
(May 27, 2026)
The tension between Charlottesville’s permissive new zoning code and public housing advocates continued to be on display when the Board of Architectural Review took a preliminary look at a revised proposal for another student housing building on West Main Street during its May 19 meeting.
Charlottesville Community Engagement
(May 27, 2026)
In this edition: a homeowners association is voting on whether to allow its Board to sign an easement for a future shared-use path from 5th Station to Biscuit Run Park, and Charlottesville is undertaking reviews of several of its environmental policies and the Planning Commission got an update earlier this month
The Winchester Star
(May 27, 2026)
Following a public hearing, the Berryville Planning Commission voted Tuesday night to recommend that Berryville Town Council deny a rezoning request that would allow for more than 100 homes in a subdivision in the northeast part of the town. The council will consider the request during an upcoming meeting.
Culpeper Star-Exponent
(May 26, 2026)
Citizens from across the state, wearing bright yellow t-shirts, filled the Culpeper County boardroom last Wednesday night to decry the Valley Link high-voltage transmission line, which seeks to cut through their rural land in nine counties. They gathered on Main Street to protest, as they did in April.
Culpeper Times
(May 21, 2026)
Last week, county officials announced they have contracted with FiberLync as the county’s new broadband partner, after the county cut ties with previous partner All Points Broadband (APB) who failed to meet project deadlines, only successfully connecting one customer nearly a year after its proposed original completion date.
Fauquier Now
(May 22, 2026)
The proposed public pool facility, at the site of the former Rappahannock Swim Club, would include a lap pool, a bathhouse, basketball and volleyball courts, outdoor weights, a waterslide and a splash pad. It is expected to serve approximately 275 attendees.
The Piedmont Journal Recorder
(May 29, 2026)
The measure advances a long-planned transportation improvement project designed to reduce congestion, improve safety, and support future growth in the Ruckersville area.
The Piedmont Journal Recorder
(May 27, 2026)
Greene County Board of Supervisors held a workshop with planning commissioners during their Wednesday meeting to lay out the ideals to be prioritized in the revised Comprehensive Plan. Every 20 years a comprehensive plan is created for the county to lay out a plan for what the county wants for its future.
Loudoun Now
(May 29, 2026)
Plans by Dominion Energy to build a new electrical substation outside of Leesburg seemed finalized Tuesday night after Loudoun supervisors approved an application for the structure during a late-night business meeting. Minutes later, the board reconsidered and a motion to deny the application tied, leaving the substation’s future uncertain.
Loudoun Times-Mirror
(May 28, 2026)
Plans are in the works for three new data centers along VA 28, just south of South Sterling Boulevard. They’d replace the current warehouse, office, hotel and conference center buildings on the 37-acre property, most of which were built decades ago.
Loudoun Now
(May 27, 2026)
Purcellville has been selected for a nearly $7 million grant to help treat wells that are impacted by poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances, but the town’s Water Fund must achieve structural balance by the time the remediation project is complete. That may require rate hikes nearing 150% over the next five years.
Loudoun Times-Mirror
(May 27, 2026)
New data centers and beefed-up transmission projects have meant more power substations for Loudoun. But county government has been putting some proposals under higher scrutiny lately. The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors deferred Dominion Energy’s Aspen substation application last week, wanting better, more attractive designs.
Loudoun Times-Mirror
(May 26, 2026)
Two Loudoun County plans to deter speeding through the St. Louis and Philomont communities will come to a future budget cycle after the Board of Supervisors endorsed separate speed-management studies that found “significant” speeding issues.
Loudoun Now
(May 22, 2026)
The property has been owned by the diZerega/Cook family since 1899 and was the location of the original spring for the town’s water supply. More recently, it is known for its Meadow Hill, a popular sledding destination. The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register.
Loudoun Times-Mirror
(May 22, 2026)
In early May, as acres of strawberry plants were blossoming and fruit ripening, the owners of Wegmeyer Farms were monitoring another night with below freezing temperatures in the forecast. Their seven acres of strawberries are planted across four locations in Hamilton, Leesburg and Aldie.
Wegmeyer Farms grows strawberries at the Piedmont Environmental Council's Gilberts Corner property and sells pre-picked strawberries at PEC's Gilberts Corner Farmers Market.
Loudoun Now
(May 21, 2026)
Winery and brewery owners hoping to be allowed to host an unlimited number of events at their businesses were met with a change in direction from the Board of Supervisors this week.
Loudoun Times-Mirror
(May 21, 2026)
This season, the Purcellville Farmers Market is based in a new location in the town parking lot, at the corner of Hatcher Avenue and Main Street. It runs every Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to noon until Oct. 31.
To find other local farms and food within the Piedmont Environmental Council's nine-county region, download PEC's 2025-2026 Buy Fresh Buy Local guides. We are proud to print and mail these to 340,000 households every other year, thanks to the generous support of our local farm and community sponsors.
The Rapidan Register
(May 27, 2026)
Earlier this month, the Madison County Board of Supervisors approved a special use permit (SUP) allowing Shannon Lillard to operate a pet grooming and kennel facility on her property located on Good Hope Church Road. The 59.136-acre parcel is zoned agricultural, A-1.
The Piedmont Journal Recorder
(May 22, 2026)
Wednesday night, Madison County Planning Commission held second workshops for a rezoning of land in the Shelby area along U.S. Route 29 and a special use permit application for a private school in Madison Mills.
Commissioners also considered ordinance amendments on signs and site plans for the first time.
The Rapidan Register
(May 22, 2026)
The 115-mile corridor along which Valley Link aims to place a 765kV transmission line is now officially endangered. Last week, representatives from 10 historic preservation and environmental groups gathered at Historic Germanna to caution against the Joshua Falls-Yeat Transmission Project, one of three proposed by Valley Link Transmission LLC.
This article stems from a press conference held by The Piedmont Environmental Council and nine other partners. It quotes PEC President Chris Miller and Field Representative Don McCown. Watch the full press conference here .
The Piedmont Journal Recorder
(May 29, 2026)
The agenda item that gathered the most comments at Tuesday’s Orange County Board of Supervisors meeting regarded the ongoing sage with the Valley Link 765 kilovolt transmission line planned to traverse the county.
The company apparently added a late addition of a report to county government and then rescinded their visit.
Culpeper Star-Exponent
(May 23, 2026)
Encompass Community Supports announced this week it was making significant forward movement on Madison Road Apartments, a development that will expand access to children’s services while creating much needed housing for the low-income, according to an agency release.
The Rapidan Register
(May 22, 2026)
The 115-mile corridor along which Valley Link aims to place a 765kV transmission line is now officially endangered. Last week, representatives from 10 historic preservation and environmental groups gathered at Historic Germanna to caution against the Joshua Falls-Yeat Transmission Project, one of three proposed by Valley Link Transmission LLC.
This article stems from a press conference held by The Piedmont Environmental Council and nine other partners. It quotes PEC President Chris Miller and Field Representative Don McCown. Watch the full press conference here .
Rappahannock News
(May 25, 2026)
The bald eagle pair whose California nest livestream has turned them into two of America’s most popular bird-streaming celebrities have amassed more than 1.2 million followers. I’d like to introduce you to Twizzie and Rory, Rappahannock’s livestreaming counterpart. Twizzie and Rory are barn owls. And while their nest doesn’t offer commanding views of Big Bear Lake — it’s in a box high in an abandoned silo at Sunnyside Farm & Conservancy — these birds tell an important story.
Rappahannock News
(May 23, 2026)
The Rappahannock County Water and Sewer Authority is weighing whether to dip into its financial reserves to keep a major sewer plant upgrade in Sperryville on track after a key portion of the project came in far over budget.
InsideNoVa
(May 21, 2026)
The ongoing PW Digital Gateway appeal to the Virginia Supreme Court stemming from data center developer QTS is facing a drawn-out timeline that could stretch into May or June 2027. Separate legal challenges from the Oak Valley Homeowners Association and the American Battlefield Trust are heading to Richmond before the commonwealth’s high court.
This article mentions The Piedmont Environmental Council,
Bay Journal
(May 28, 2026)
As Staci Hartwell sees it, her community has much more to lose than to gain from the development of a massive data center. In Prince George’s County, the debate over data centers has an added dimension: worries that the industry will worsen health and environmental problems in communities already overtaxed by them.
Information Charlottesville
(May 27, 2026)
Every year, the group Preservation Virginia publishes a list of historic places across the Commonwealth that its members believe are in danger of being demolished or compromised by development. One of those is the entire alignment selected for the Joshua Falls-Yeat Transmission Line Corridor across multiple counties including Fluvanna County and Louisa County.
Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star
(May 24, 2026)
The Louisa County Board of Supervisors approved a budget supplement authorizing up to $250,000 for legal expenses related to the proposed Valley Link transmission line project, a move county leaders said is intended to support potential legal action.
Virginia Mercury
(May 29, 2026)
The impressive clean energy portfolio notwithstanding, anyone who expects a NewEra takeover to end Dominion’s infatuation with fossil gas is mistaken, columnist Ivy Main writes. We’ve seen nothing so far to reassure us the energy giants are committed to doing their part to further Virginia’s carbon-cutting mandate.
Cardinal News
(May 28, 2026)
Virginia’s tax break for data centers began back in 2008, when few people knew what data centers were and the state was trying to attract an Apple facility to Mecklenburg County. The official fiscal impact statement at the time listed the long-term impact as “unknown.” That “unknown” is now known. Virginia, especially Northern Virginia, has become the world’s capital for data centers — and that tax break is now estimated at $1.9 billion a year.
ARL Now
(May 27, 2026)
State Sen. Barbara Favola (D-40) told ARLnow that the Virginia SCC will be reviewing the capital needs, profits, investment strategies and customer services that any merger would offer Virginians. “As a lawmaker, I will be paying particular attention to how this merger affects some of our traditionally underserved pockets in Virginia,” she said.
The Daily Progress
(May 27, 2026)
A new online "trail" of Roanoke Valley farmers is making it easier for produces to connect with consumers, tourists and collaborators.
To find local farms and food within the Piedmont Environmental Council's nine-county region, download PEC's 2025-2026 Buy Fresh Buy Local guides . We are proud to print and mail these to 340,000 households every other year, thanks to the generous support of our local farm and community sponsors.
Virginia Mercury
(May 27, 2026)
The groups appealing the decision previously appealed to the SCC and asked regulators to reconsider their decision to approve the project because it would violate the Virginia Clean Economy Act. That law mandates Dominion retire carbon-emitting energy production by 2045, with exceptions.
Inside Climate News
(May 26, 2026)
Deborah Blackburn leaned on her cane in a line to enter the Central High Cultural and Educational Complex, angst-ridden over a giant transmission line proposal for reasons that are common refrains here: It’s all to benefit data centers in Northern Virginia, and it will disrupt the rural character here outside Richmond. Up for public discussion in Goochland at the recent meeting Blackburn attended was a segment that would start at the Joshua Falls substation in Campbell County, about 115 miles west of Richmond.
This article mentions The Piedmont Environmental Council.
Virginia Mercury
(May 26, 2026)
Virginia is pushing to reinvest express lane and toll revenue into public transit instead of road projects, even as public concerns persist about using priced roadways. Rising operating and labor costs threaten the stability of transit funding in Virginia, underscoring the urgency of reinvesting toll revenue into public transportation.
Virginia Mercury
(May 26, 2026)
Private equity firms own nearly 3 million apartment units, about 13% of the total apartments across the country, according to a new analysis from watchdog group Private Equity Stakeholder Project. And most have been fairly recent purchases.
Richmond Times-Dispatch
(May 26, 2026)
“The companies' public statements make clear that Florida-based NextEra wants to buy Dominion so its shareholders can reap huge profits from data center growth in Virginia,” said Nate Benforado, senior attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center. “But utility profits don’t grow on a tree — they come out of customers’ wallets,” he said.
29 News
(May 26, 2026)
Virginia still does not have a state budget in place as lawmakers remain divided over how to handle tax breaks for data centers. If lawmakers cannot reach a deal before the start of the new fiscal year on July 1, the Commonwealth could face its first government shutdown in modern history. The main disagreement centers around data center tax incentives.
WHRO
(May 25, 2026)
The iconic species once dominated the Southeast landscape and helped fuel the military might of early America. But longleafs were decimated by years of logging and development. The Longleaf Cooperators of Virginia, a coalition of state agencies, nonprofits and universities, has been working to bring back the trees.
The New York Times
(May 29, 2026)
NextEra Energy is known in its home state, Florida, as a political force whose tactics have sometimes put it at odds with regulators, residents, consumer groups and news organizations. “NextEra’s playbook and history in Florida should make Virginians and South Carolinians terrified of this merger,” said David Pomerantz of the Energy and Policy Institute.
The Wall Street Journal
(May 25, 2026)
Developer Asher Luzzatto stared out at the snow-capped Rocky Mountains one recent April afternoon, admiring the postcard view from the 29th floor of his recently acquired office tower. Then he turned his gaze lower, to the streets surrounding the downtown Denver building, where he glimpsed a less-inspiring sight: vacant store fronts, empty office buildings with darkened floors, and deserted streets.
The Washington Post
(May 25, 2026)
AI is reshaping industries, national security and the economy. But farmers and ranchers are not opposing the technology. They are asking legitimate questions about property rights, water usage, power reliability, utility costs and whether local residents will have a meaningful voice in decisions that permanently reshape their communities.
Virginia Mercury
(May 22, 2026)
As utility costs surge and the proposed Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy merger could mean a change in energy policies, U.S. Rep. Eugene Vindman, D-Woodbridge, this week proposed two bills to heighten electricity rates transparency. Another Virginia congressional representative, U.S. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Loudoun, pitched a measure to strategically protect data centers and surrounding communities from attacks by international adversaries.
Harper's Magazine
(May 20, 2026)
Clearly, money has played a decisive role in the politics of AI, both on the federal level and in states like Michigan. But it is no less influential in local politics, all the way down to individual counties. As in Michigan, Virginia’s principal utility, Dominion Energy, wields immense power thanks to its bottomless purse. Since 2010, the company has contributed more than $1 million to Luke Torian, the delegate representing Prince William County in the state assembly.
Bay Journal
(May 18, 2026)
Be-leaf it or not, the tree widely known as the tulip poplar (or yellow poplar at a lumberyard) is not a poplar at all. Liriodendron tulipifera is a member of the magnolia family, and your friendly neighborhood dendrologist may insist that you call it a tuliptree.
The Wall Street Journal
(May 27, 2026)
When Google arrived last year in this sleepy coastal Indian city, the government rolled out the welcome mat, offering billions of dollars’ worth of incentives for the U.S. company to build data centers for artificial intelligence. Some residents had never heard of AI, much less Gemini and ChatGPT. What they do know is that Visakhapatnam doesn’t have much water...
MacLean's
(May 25, 2026)
Twin Lakes Ranch has been in Brenda Ralston’s family for more than a hundred years. One day, she expects to hand it down to her son, who’s studying animal sciences at the University of Saskatchewan. “He’ll be the fifth generation,” she says. In late May of 2025, Ralston received a letter calling that future into question.
