On Saturday, Dec. 2, over 450 advocates banded together at Virginia Conservation Network’s 13 in-person Regional Watch Parties across the state or tuned in virtually to “preview” the critical environmental legislative action upcoming in the 2024 General Assembly.
Data Centers
Existing and Proposed Data Centers – A Web Map
How many data centers currently exist in Virginia? How many proposals are in the works? These are very good questions. It’s also extremely difficult to provide an answer, given there is no publicly available dataset or state-level tracking of these facilities. In response, The Piedmont Environmental Council has pulled together an online web map showing existing data center facilities (that we are aware of), along with pending data center proposals we have found on various town and county websites, as well as through various news outlets.
Data Centers on the Horizon: What’s the Big Deal?
This webinar is an opportunity to learn about the resource requirements of the data center industry and the impact of our collective digital footprints.
Virginia Data Center Reform Coalition to kick off with Dec. 1 press conference
Nonprofit organizations, homeowners’ groups, and residents from all over Virginia have joined forces to form a coalition that is calling for industry-wide data center reform.
2023 Highlights: A Holistic Approach to Conservation
PEC works to protect and restore the lands and waters of the Virginia Piedmont, while building stronger, more sustainable communities. The following highlights reflect our work in 2023.
Cville Area Land Use Update: Week Ahead for November 20, 2023
Albemarle ARB to review AC44 goals; Council to get briefing on transit budget
Resources from the Warrenton Town Hall on Transmission Lines and Data Centers – Nov. 13, 2023
On Monday, November 13, 2023, a coalition of organizations including Citizens for Fauquier County, Protect Fauquier, Protect Catlett and The Piedmont Environmental Council held a community town hall about Transmission Lines and Data Centers.
Breaking update on PEC’s VFOIA lawsuit against Orange County
Orange County officials signed NDAs with Amazon; court hearing deferred
Piedmont Environmental Council sues Orange County for VFOIA violations
In the interest of good governance and transparency, The Piedmont Environmental Council filed a lawsuit yesterday against Orange County for improperly denying public access to documents pertaining to a local rezoning application, in violation of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. The lawsuit comes after Orange County officials were unresponsive to PEC’s petition for a Writ of Mandamus, served on Oct. 26, which gave county officials a number of days to correct their VFOIA deficiencies. The lawsuit reflects PEC’s growing concern about the dramatic loss of public access to information about land use decisions in Orange County and across the Commonwealth.
Transmission line update and community meeting invite
In September, I wrote to you about the explosive growth of Virginia’s data center industry and one of the side effects: a major push for new transmission lines.