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.
Energy Matters
PEC works toward energy solutions that emphasize efficiency first, use appropriate technologies for the 21st Century and respect the scenic and historic character of the Piedmont.
On the Ground Updates – June 2023
A series of short updates from around the PEC region.
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.
Summer 2023 Piedmont View
The summer 2023 edition of the Piedmont View features articles about the PEC’s new strategic plan, an interview with PEC’s Senior Energy and Climate Policy Analyst Ashish Kapoor, the Land Preservation Tax Credit reaching 1 million acres conserved, ‘On the Ground’ reports from across the region, upcoming events, and more!
Amazon Site Development Plan / Zoning Amendment on Overhead Power Lines
Amazon’s site development plan disregards multiple conditions of the special use permit approved in February and contains numerous omissions, deficiencies and errors…
Stevensburg residents shape their future
With the help of local community leaders and organizations, PEC informed the residents of Stevensburg and Brandy Station about the potential impacts of the AttoTek Data Center campus.
Questions Swirl Around Data Centers – How Many, Where and at What Cost?
Although DEQ’s proposed variance for data center diesel generator has been pulled, the underlying issue remains: Is this continued boom in data center development sustainable?
Piedmont Environmental Council Statement on Department of Environmental Quality Variance Withdrawal
The Virginia Department of Environmental Equality’s withdrawal of its proposed variance that would have allowed data centers to circumvent Virginia’s air pollution control regulations limiting the use of heavily polluting, industrial sized, emergency diesel generators is a step in the right direction, and although we’d like to think it’s an indication that DEQ recognizes its waiver would be harmful to human health and the environment, the DEQ notice unfortunately makes it clear that the agency has done the right thing for the wrong reason.
2023-2028 Strategic Plan
The Piedmont Environmental Council’s 2023-2028 Strategic Plan sets a direction for the years ahead.
PEC Presentation on Data Centers & Potential Reliance on Backup Diesel Generators
On March 28, 2023, The Piedmont Environmental Council hosted a local information session in Loudoun County about a variance being proposed by The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to allow Loudoun data centers to use their backup diesel generators more frequently during the coming summer.