Here are the 2023 PEC Photo Contest finalists. Take a look and vote for your favorites now!
Orange County
PEC’s Orange County office supports our land use and land conservation activities in the County. PEC is dedicated to promoting healthy communities and the preservation of Orange’s rural character, environment and historic resources.
![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.
![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.
![PEC Accepting Annual Photo Contest Submissions Through Sept. 30](https://www.pecva.org/wp-content/uploads/photo_contest_header_2023-1024x341.webp)
PEC Accepting Annual Photo Contest Submissions Through Sept. 30
Now through September 30, photographers are invited to submit their best images of the Virginia Piedmont to PEC’s 12th Annual Photo Contest.
![Wilderness Crossing, RSA Withdrawal Permit, Elections](https://www.pecva.org/wp-content/uploads/rapidan-river-aerial-wilderness-crossing-orange-county-2021-credit-hugh-kenny-1200x-1024x536.jpg)
Wilderness Crossing, RSA Withdrawal Permit, Elections
A brief update on Wilderness Crossing and some related Orange County happenings.
![Get Distributed Solar for Your Home, Farm or Business](https://www.pecva.org/wp-content/uploads/resized_solar_panels_ev_charger_loudoun_credit_hugh_kenny_PEC-8-1024x767.webp)
Get Distributed Solar for Your Home, Farm or Business
It’s solar season! Solarize Piedmont, our annual campaign with the Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP), is running now through the end of August.
![With parcel transfer complete, Town of Gordonsville expands community park](https://www.pecva.org/wp-content/uploads/gordonsville_park_system_drone_looking_north_1_may_2020_with_labels_credit_marco_sanchez_updated_1200x-1024x571.jpg)
With parcel transfer complete, Town of Gordonsville expands community park
PEC has transferred two properties it owned in Gordonsville to the Town of Gordonsville for the expansion of Verling Park, moving forward a community-wide effort to improve the 70-year-old park into the redevelopment phase.
![PEC Presentation on Data Centers & Virginia’s Clean Energy Future](https://www.pecva.org/wp-content/uploads/data_center_ashburn_loudoun_wod_trail_drone_4-10-23_credit_hugh_kenny_pec_29_1200x-1024x536.webp)
PEC Presentation on Data Centers & Virginia’s Clean Energy Future
On June 10, 2023, The Piedmont Environmental Council hosted our annual meeting in Loudoun County and featured a workshop on data centers and Virginia’s clean energy future. The presentation, given by PEC’s Senior Energy and Climate Policy Analyst Ashish Kapoor and Director of Land Use Julie Bolthouse, is available to view and download below.
![On the Ground Updates – June 2023](https://www.pecva.org/wp-content/uploads/1000x_Robinson_River_Madison_County_10.19.22_drone_credit_Hugh_Kenny-20-jpg.webp)
On the Ground Updates – June 2023
A series of short updates from around the PEC region.