The human and environmental costs of the data center industry are only predicted to worsen with the rise of cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence applications. That’s why we’re supporting a new congressional bill, the Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts Act of 2024.
PEC
Catherine Fisher
Catherine Fisher joined The Piedmont Environmental Council as the Community Farm Specialist in March 2024.
Piedmont Environmental Council’s Bluebell Walk on Cedar Run to be held April 7
This free, family-friendly walk through a beautiful streamside field of Virginia’s iconic and ephemeral bluebells is hosted by Margrete and Mike Stevens at their conserved property, Bonny Brook Farm in Catlett.
On the Ground Updates – March 2024
A series of short updates from around the PEC region.
Who’s Protecting the Piedmont?
Here, we highlight two of those people, who are protecting the Piedmont with a passion and focus on stemming the decline of our once-abundant grassland birds.
2023 Land Conservation Totals
In 2023, 6,315 acres of land in Albemarle, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Greene, Loudoun, Madison, Orange and Rappahannock counties were permanently protected with 52 conservation easements.
Reshaping the Future of Farm to Table: Expanding Local Meat Processing Capacity in Virginia
This video tells the story of partners coming together to give small Virginia producers more options to process meat products from their farms.
Data Center Legislation in the 2024 Virginia General Assembly
Numerous pieces of legislation related to data center reform were introduced as part of the 2024 Virginia General Assembly Session. Unfortunately, the majority of the bills were defeated or carried over to the 2025 Virginia General Assembly Session.
Virginia Data Center Reform Coalition
This growing coalition is made up of more than 25 environmental, conservation, historic preservation, and climate advocacy groups, as well as representatives of communities and neighborhoods across the state of Virginia.
Together, we are urging state lawmakers to study the cumulative effects of data center development on Virginia’s electrical grid, water resources, air quality, and land conservation efforts, and to institute several common-sense regulatory and rate-making reforms for the industry.
Numerous bills have been introduced in the 2024 General Assembly session thanks to the work of this collaboration in spreading the word, mobilizing public support, and working directly with elected officials to draft the legislation. We invite you to take action in supporting their passage.
Members
American Battlefield Trust
Center for Biological Diversity
Chesapeake Bay Program
Chesapeake Legal Alliance
Citizens for Fauquier County
Clean Virginia
Climate & Clean Energy Working Group of the Virginia Grassroots Coalition
Coalition for Smarter Growth
Coalition to Protect Prince William County
Coalition to Save Culpeper
Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions
Friends of the Rappahannock
Goose Creek Association
Henrico Conservation Action Network
HOA Roundtable
The Journey Through Hallowed Ground
Loudoun Climate Project
Loudoun Transmission Line Alliance
Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy
Manassas Battlefield Trust
Maryland Legislative Coalition – Climate Justice Wing
National Parks Conservation Association
Nature Forward
Northern Virginia Bird Alliance
The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks
The Piedmont Environmental Council
Potomac Conservancy
Preservation Virginia
Prince William Conservation Alliance
Protect Catlett
Protect Fauquier
Rappahannock Tribe
Save BrenMar Coalition
Save Rural Loudoun
Sierra Club Virginia Chapter
Virginia Clinicians for Climate Action
Virginia Conservation Network
Virginia League of Conservation Voters
Virginia Native Plant Society
Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area
Waterkeepers Chesapeake
…and more, including 20+ HOA and community representatives
Contact
Samantha Eley
Data Center Reform Coalition Campaign Coordinator
[email protected]
(540) 347-2334 ext. 7048
On The Ground Updates – December 2023
A series of short land use and conservation updates from around the PEC region.