PEC is calling on legislators to go further and use the budget to pause the sales tax exemption and pause approvals of new data center projects so Virginia can actually plan for the impacts of the 51GW’s of data center demand that’s already been approved.
Data centers
Op-Ed: The Budget Provides a Chance for Real Data Center Reform
No other industry in the state has such a large footprint with so few regulatory hurdles and such a profound impact on the public — with little transparency or public input until deals are done.
Press Release: Virginia is No Longer Deciding What’s Best for Virginia: The NextEra/Dominion Deal is Another Example of Data Centers Determining Our Future
The announced acquisition of Dominion Energy by NextEra is the latest — and largest — example of the expansion of monopoly control over basic utility services and is a threat to Virginians’ right to self determination.
Proposed Transmission Line Corridor Named One of Virginia’s Most Endangered Historic Places
Preservation Virginia has named the corridor targeted for Valley Link’s proposed 765 kilovolt transmission line project (aka Joshua Falls-Yeat) to its list of Virginia’s Most Endangered Historic Places for 2026.
New Study Highlights Public Health Impacts of Gas Turbine-Powered Data Centers
As data centers requiring more and more power continue to flood our region, we are seeing a concerning new trend: data center proposals that include onsite natural gas turbines to use as their main power source, as a means of bypassing the long wait to be connected to the electrical grid.
Piedmont Environmental Council Statement on the Potomac River Being Named the Most Threatened River in America
This week, American Rivers released its 2026 list of most endangered rivers, and the Potomac River leads the list, due in large part to uncontrolled data center growth throughout the watershed.
In Major Win, Massive ‘Digital Gateway’ Data Center Project Has Been Halted
On March 31, the Virginia Court of Appeals issued a unanimous ruling that effectively halts the controversial “Digital Gateway” project proposed in Prince William County, barring an appeal to the Virginia Supreme Court.
General Assembly Update — Spring 2026
Every day, Piedmont Environmental Council staff engage at the local, state and federal levels to shape public policy with an eye toward protecting and restoring the lands and waters of the Virginia Piedmont while building strong, more sustainable communities. The Virginia General Assembly serves as the main stage for these efforts.
On the Ground Updates – April 2026
A series of short updates from around the PEC region – Albemarle & Charlottesville, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Greene, Loudoun, Madison, Orange & Rappahannock.
Tell Culpeper Officials to Hold Their Ground: No Bending the Rules for Reckless Development
The Town of Culpeper is once again trying to fast-track data centers with a new code amendment, and the Maroon Solar utility-scale solar project is headed to a Board of Supervisors vote on April 7.