Here are the 2023 PEC Photo Contest finalists. Take a look and vote for your favorites now!
Fauquier County
PEC works to help citizens in Fauquier build better communities and protect cherished resources–scenic views, working farms, historic heritage, clean water, and healthy air.
![Putting the Pieces Together on Digital Gateway](https://www.pecva.org/wp-content/uploads/pw-digital-gateway-stitched-together-credit-Julie-Bolthouse-PEC-754x1024.webp)
Putting the Pieces Together on Digital Gateway
Since 2021, PEC has been supporting our partners’ heroic efforts to stop the largest data center campus in the world from being built on rural land next to Manassas National Battlefield Park, along Pageland Lane in Prince William County, Virginia.
The proposal, dubbed “Digital Gateway,” is massive and is projected to require around 3 gigawatts (GW) of energy. For context, that’s equivalent to the power used by 750,000 homes – roughly 5 times the number of households currently in Prince William County!
![PEC Presentation on Energy Infrastructure and Data Centers (Upperville)](https://www.pecva.org/wp-content/uploads/pec-presentation-title-slide-upperville-10-23-23-jpg.webp)
PEC Presentation on Energy Infrastructure and Data Centers (Upperville)
On Oct. 23, The Piedmont Environmental Council hosted a community meeting in Upperville, Va. on data centers and associated energy infrastructure.
![PEC response to sign alteration](https://www.pecva.org/wp-content/uploads/pec_logo_green_400px.png)
PEC response to sign alteration
This week, PEC has become aware that the “It’s Not Over” message on some of these yard signs have recently been covered with materials indicating preference for a particular candidate in the upcoming Warrenton Town Council election. This action was done without our knowledge, involvement, or approval.
Latest on Amazon’s data center in Warrenton
Since we last updated you on Amazon’s Warrenton data center, Amazon has spent these couple of months responding to the Town’s first round of comments on its initial site development plan.
![Data Centers, Surging Power Demand Take Center Stage](https://www.pecva.org/wp-content/uploads/data_center_loudoun_county_august_2023_credit_hugh_kenny_PEC-29-1000x-jpg.webp)
Data Centers, Surging Power Demand Take Center Stage
The size, scale, and speed at which applications for data center projects are coming in and being approved is astounding.
Just this month, massive proposals moved forward in Culpeper, Louisa, and King George counties, with more being reviewed in Caroline and Stafford counties. Prince William, Loudoun, Fairfax, and Fauquier counties all have multiple active proposals for hyperscale data centers, which can demand hundreds of megawatts of power per campus. As an example, the data center campus just approved in King George County could total more than 1,200 MW alone.
![On The Ground Updates – September 2023](https://www.pecva.org/wp-content/uploads/charlottesville_downtown_albemarle_drone_sunset_8.1.22_credit_hugh_kenny_pec_1_1200x-1024x536.webp)
On The Ground Updates – September 2023
A series of short updates from around the PEC region.
![Stewarding the Land: Restoring Healthy Forests](https://www.pecva.org/wp-content/uploads/1200px_Ovoka_Timber_Harvest_November_2022_credit_Hugh_Kenny_PEC-01021-1024x683.webp)
Stewarding the Land: Restoring Healthy Forests
Stewardship means to look after the landscape with its ecological, scenic, economic, and cultural dimensions in mind.
![The Environmental Footprint of the Digital Age](https://www.pecva.org/wp-content/uploads/1200px_data_center_asburn_loudoun_wod_trail_drone_4-10-23_credit_hugh_kenny_pec-33-1024x683.webp)
The Environmental Footprint of the Digital Age
Virginia is subsidizing billions of dollars in data center development on the backs of its ratepayers, without a full understanding of the long-term ramifications.
![Initial Transmission Proposals – PEC Web Map](https://www.pecva.org/wp-content/uploads/images/energy/transmission/PowerLine016lightened-1024x768.jpg)
Initial Transmission Proposals – PEC Web Map
Transmission line proposals to serve the explosive growth of data centers in Virginia over the past few years have begun to roll in.