Virginia is home to the largest concentration of data centers in the world, widely cited as hosting 70% of global internet traffic. This massive industry is continuing to grow very fast, requiring huge amounts of energy, land, and water to operate, resulting in widespread community impacts.
General Assembly
Find out more about what we are tracking during Virginia’s annual legislative session.
Connecting Wildlife Habitats
Wildlife must be able to move through our landscapes to acquire resources, find genetically diverse mates, and adapt to a changing climate. Roads, development, and other infrastructure can impede wildlife movement and create dangerous scenarios on our roadways for both wildlife and people.
Investing in Virginia’s Heritage and Future
Across Virginia’s coast, piedmont, and mountains, we have a wealth of natural and cultural resources that are closely tied to the state’s heritage and integral to its future. These resources are assets vital to the state’s economic, social, and environmental health.
Working With Farmers to Protect Our Waterways
Agriculture is Virginia’s largest industry by many metrics. It also represents the largest source of nutrient and sediment pollution reaching Virginia’s local streams, rivers, and the Chesapeake Bay. Fortunately, addressing these pollution loads offers an opportunity to improve the Commonwealth’s natural resources while also enhancing working farms and forests.
Meet Ashish Kapoor, Senior Energy & Climate Policy Analyst
Ashish Kapoor has joined the PEC staff to fill the important new role of Senior Energy & Climate Policy Analyst, and we sat down with him recently to learn more about how and why the transformation of our energy system is so important.
Virginia’s Land Preservation Tax Credit hits a milestone
In late April, at the Virginia Land Conservation and Greenways conference in Harrisonburg, Senator Hanger proudly announced the permanent protection of over 1 million acres of land as a direct result of the LPTC.
Take Action: The Air We Breathe Is at Risk
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is considering adopting a variance that would allow the data center industry to run backup diesel generators for longer and more frequent periods of time from March to July – allowing them to circumvent Virginia’s air pollution control laws that limit dangerous pollutants and emissions.
2023 General Assembly Crossover Update
This Tuesday marked the halfway point of Virginia’s 2023 General Assembly Session, a date known as ‘crossover.’ The House and Senate have each finished voting on the bills their members put forward, and now move on to consider legislation passed by the opposite body.
Virginia goes all in on data centers: At what cost?
Send a letter in support of SB 1078 and Senate Joint Resolution 240.
Eyes on Richmond / Call to Support Farmland Protection
The Piedmont Environmental Council is tracking a broad array of bills and budget amendments, as well as supporting legislative priorities of partners within the Virginia Conservation Network.