What is a Conservation Easement?
A conservation easement is a land preservation agreement between a landowner and a governmental or non-profit conservation organization that places permanent limits on the future development of a property in order to protect the conservation …
Fellowship Program – Five Years In
This summer marked the fifth year of the PEC Fellowship Program, which is becoming a nationally known educational program for students with an interest in environmental work. Each year, twelve college students, graduate students, and …
Virginia Uranium Company Pushing to End the Ban in 2012
On the day that an earthquake struck Virginia, as the region prepared for a hurricane, representatives of Virginia Uranium found themselves addressing the City Council of Virginia Beach, to explain why containment pits of radioactive …
Double Bypass
If there’s one thing that’s been bypassed in the ongoing push for new roads around DC and Charlottesville, it’s public process. First, in May, the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) revived plans for a developers’ dream …
Wild Child
What fears are separating children from nature? What happens when they reconnect? When children first arrive at Rappahannock Nature Camp, they are afraid of bugs, the camp director, Lyt Wood, told me. But, on the …
Uranium Here
In 1979, Bill Speiden was offered a lease for uranium mining and milling on his Orange County farm. That uranium hasn’t gone anywhere. The debate over uranium mining and milling in Virginia is coming to …
Big Growth in Greene
When Brian Higgins joined PEC’s staff as our first full-time field officer for Culpeper and Greene, this summer, he had to hit the ground running in Greene County. For one thing, the county is considering …
Share Your Photos
PEC would be delighted and grateful to share your photographs or imagery with our audience. Images are needed for both print and electronic publications …
Our Mission
Virginia’s northern Piedmont is an exceptional place. Located at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Piedmont is beloved for its scenic beauty, unparalleled in its significance to America’s history, and valuable for its …
Our Strategic Plan
In 2010, the PEC Board adopted an update of our Strategic Plan, setting goals and establishing a plan of action for the next 5 years …