The Piedmont View

View articles published in our quarterly membership newsletter, The Piedmont View. To become a PEC member or renew your existing membership, visit our donations page today!

To access PDFs of prior editions, view the Piedmont View archive.

President's Letter: Our perseverance is paying off

President’s Letter: Our perseverance is paying off

Our work has never been more relevant than it is in this moment: when the pressure of data centers and all of their electrical infrastructure threatens both our past conservation victories and our future conservation …
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On the Ground Updates – September 2025

On the Ground Updates – September 2025

A series of short updates from around the PEC region – Albemarle & Charlottesville, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Greene, Loudoun, Madison, Orange & Rappahannock …
A legacy of conservation and community at risk in Fauquier County

A legacy of conservation and community at risk in Fauquier County

From their storied pasts to the present day, the Fauquier County towns of Remington, Bealeton and the many unique crossroad communities in the surrounding region have been characterized by their rural charm. And for decades, …
Why is Dominion trying to kill rooftop solar?

Why is Dominion trying to kill rooftop solar?

These days, it’s always refreshing to find things that most folks agree on. Solar on rooftops, parking lots and brownfields, along with smaller-scale agrivoltaics (combining agriculture and solar production on the same land), get pretty …
Annual Gathering at Eldon Farms draw record crowd, features conservation & agriculture best practices

Annual Gathering at Eldon Farms draw record crowd, features conservation & agriculture best practices

Although The Piedmont Environmental Council’s Annual Gathering this year got off to a rainy start, there was no stopping our mission of coming together in the name of conservation …
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In the backround, people walk through a field harvesting cabages, while in the foreground a large crate of cabages sits.

Feeding the Piedmont

All of us here at PEC know that resilient food systems are crucial to building stronger, more sustainable communities. That’s why we’ve made it a priority to support and promote working farms and to bring …
Randal Fellows immerse themselves in PEC's work

Randal Fellows immerse themselves in PEC’s work

Twelve college students and recent graduates from around the country joined us this summer for the 19th annual Randal Fellowship, an eight-week immersion program in The Piedmont Environmental Council’s work and exploration of conservation-related careers …
Three children run along a trail through the woods, their backs to the camera.

A Conversation on Trails and Connectivity

While conserving the verdant landscapes of Virginia’s Piedmont is foundational to The Piedmont Environmental Council’s mission, making the outdoors accessible to everyone has become an equally vital goal. Over the past few years, we have …
A baby opossum in the grass.

Conservation Benefits Everyone

The car in front of me swerved to miss something in the road. I slowed, watching a small creature make its slow, plodding way across the asphalt. As I got closer, I realized it was …
An aerial view of transmission lines coming in to an electrical substation.

Questioning an Explosive Forecast: PEC Intervenes in Dominion IRP

Several years into the data center explosion in our region, the big picture is finally becoming clear to both the public and our decision makers. No longer are our communities just hearing The Piedmont Environmental …