Warrenton, VA, September 18, 2025 – The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) joins the American Battlefield Trust and other partners — who work tirelessly to protect Virginia’s historic resources and scenic landscapes — in celebrating the Orange County circuit court’s rejection of attempts by Orange County and the would-be developers of Wilderness Crossing to throw out the legal challenge to the reckless and secretive way this sprawling rezoning was approved. The court’s decision to partially deny the county and developer’s motion to dismiss, means the lawsuit can proceed.

“This is a win for the residents of this area and a step toward preserving a national battlefield as it should be: a powerful and ever-relevant reminder of our country’s complex history and the sacrifices of those who fought and died there,” said Chris Miller, president of The Piedmont Environmental Council. “First and foremost, the county government should listen to its constituents and not blindly rush to appease developers. The considerations in approving such hugely impactful projects must go deeper than tax revenue.”

This proposed Wilderness Crossing development proposal is massive: 5,000 homes, 800 acres of commercial use, and 732 acres of data centers. And those data centers could be approved “by right,” circumventing any oversight or input from the community. County residents wouldn’t get a say in the matter. Approval of even one component of this project would change the character of the area forever.

While not a party to the lawsuit, PEC filed an amicus brief in the case, which can be found here.  

Statewide, community sentiment is shifting against large scale developments like Wilderness Crossing, and for data centers in particular, as the real impacts become better known. PEC and partner organizations continue to tell Virginia residents the whole story of data centers, not just the happy talk from the developers who are attempting to steamroll over local governments and disregard the concerns of residents.

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Media Contact: Mike Doble, [email protected], (703) 579-7963