This text was taken from an email alert sent out on December 16, 2025. Sign up for email alerts →
Dear Supporter,
Thank you for another year of following and supporting our work in Culpeper! While we still have many challenges facing us, I want to take this opportunity to share some ways we’ve helped to move the needle in a positive direction, as well as provide a few important opportunities to engage with our state elected officials during the 2026 legislative session.
Win: Culpeper Receives a Silver SolSmart Solar Designation
Say that three times fast! While it might not have received much fanfare, last year PEC encouraged Culpeper County to pursue SolSmart designation, a national program designed to recognize communities that are encouraging solar energy growth at the local level. Participation in this program can open up opportunities and resources for local governments looking to encourage solar energy production, especially distributed solar such as rooftop and parking lot solar installations.
PEC was delighted when, in April 2025, Culpeper County received a Silver designation based on existing regulations and practices, including common-sense regulations for utility-scale solar. We were also impressed to learn that Culpeper was one of the first counties in Virginia to adopt the use of SolarAPP+. SolarAPP+ is a program that allows county staff to review and approve rooftop solar projects quickly and efficiently, reducing county costs and making it easier for homeowners to get the necessary building permits for their installation.
Challenge: Dominion Proposes to Slash Net Metering Benefits of Solar to Customers
Energy is a hot topic right now; Virginia’s unchecked data center growth has already led to higher energy bills for everyone, and many localities may be burdened with expanded transmission lines and even power plants in the near future.
We are continuing our work to advocate for a more distributed, clean energy system that also provides people with an opportunity to gain energy independence. However, the fundamental billing structure that makes small-scale solar economically viable for homeowners, farmers and businesses, net metering, is under threat.
Currently, rooftop solar owners who produce more energy than they use receive a 1:1 credit on their electric bill for excess energy that is sent back to the grid. Unfortunately, some utilities, like Dominion Energy, are trying to undercut this option by petitioning the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) to halve the net metering benefits for solar owners. Learn more. →
How you can help:
If you have a minute during this holiday season, I encourage you to submit a letter to the SCC in favor of protecting the current net metering structure by Tuesday, Jan. 13. You also have the option of speaking remotely at the evidentiary hearing on Tuesday, Jan. 20. Sign up online for this using the case number PUR-2025-00079.
We’re also anticipating more utility-scale solar applications to emerge in Culpeper County in early 2026. Stay tuned!
Win: Pumping the Brakes on Data Centers
This spring we saw the developer of the speculative DALRO data center withdraw its application for a substation after the Culpeper County Planning Commission unanimously recommended denial. This application — which attempted to claim the by-right status of data centers in Culpeper’s industrial zones — motivated the Board of Supervisors to do what we have long recommended: remove data centers as by-right in all zoning districts.
While this move did not impact any of the previously-approved data centers, it means that any new data center proposals will require public hearings and board approval. This is a huge victory for the people of Culpeper that offers another layer of protection against unrestricted growth by data center developers.
We also saw the Culpeper Town Council act on our recommendation to restrict data centers by creating a Data Center Overlay as part of the Town Unified Draft Ordinance (a comprehensive overhaul of the Town’s zoning laws). We believe this only happened because the Town Council heard from many of you who expressed concerns and outrage over the data center approvals that occurred during the last few years. Thanks to you and others who contacted the Town Council, data centers are now only allowed on the parcels of land where they are currently approved, limiting the impacts of this industry to the eastern edge of town.
Challenge: Data Centers Continue to Push into Virginia Communities
Speaking out against unchecked data center growth and their potential to harm communities, consume farmland and threaten public resources is now more important than ever. As more people are experiencing the impacts of construction traffic, noise, expanding transmission infrastructure and emissions from diesel generators brought on by data center development, elected officials at every level of government must hear from their constituents about the costs these facilities are placing on them and the need for action.
Data centers loomed large in the year’s state elections, and we also expect to see many bills concerning data centers in the coming year; both those asking for common-sense regulations and those attempting to further cement the industry’s hold on Virginia. We will update you on crucial bills, but you can also track bills using the Virginia Conservation Network bill tracker.
Opportunity to Speak Up – Meet with Lawmakers
As part of the Data Center Reform Coalition, PEC is hosting a 2026 Data Center Reform Lobby Day on Monday, Feb. 9 in Richmond. This is the day when we take the concerns of the community to state lawmakers. If you live near a planned data center or transmission line, we want to hear from you, and more importantly, we want your state legislators to hear from you about the impact of unchecked and unregulated data center growth on your life. You don’t have to be a seasoned advocate to participate, as you’ll be paired with lobbying experts for meetings. A bus will be provided for those in Northern Virginia wishing to ride with other attendees to Richmond, as well as carpooling options.
The Virginia Conservation Network (VCN) will also host its Conservation Lobby Day on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026.
Though my work is centered around Culpeper and Rappahannock counties, PEC has had a busy year in the seven other counties we cover, including Albemarle, Clarke, Fauquier, Greene, Loudoun, Madison and Orange. You can read more about our other work in our 2025 Impact Report. You can also read more about our efforts to “move the needle” at the regional and even international level in the winter edition of The Piedmont View.
Finally, PEC’s work in Culpeper County – monitoring and reviewing development proposals and zoning changes, and advocating for good planning and best possible outcomes – relies on your consistent action on important issues. It also couldn’t happen without financial support. Consider making a donation or becoming a PEC Member.
Cheers,
Sarah Parmelee
Land Use Field Representative
Culpeper County
[email protected]
(540) 347-2334 ext. 7045
