Since the General Assembly began its 2024 session, the newly-opened General Assembly office building and the Capitol have seen frenetic activity, day in and day out. Many bills that were introduced in January have now seen numerous amendments and text changes, with some being passed over and others being voted out of committee and onto the House or Senate floor for action.
Transmission
The Piedmont Environmental Council has some experience dealing with Dominion and transmission line proposals through our region. In 2006 and 2008, utilities proposed two unnecessary high-voltage transmission lines that would connect to the oldest and dirtiest coal-fired generation in the United States. Learn more about the TrAIL line (approved and built) and the PATH line (turned down). More recently, a series of projects has been proposed, each with its own set of details and impacts.
![Resources from the Purcellville Community Meeting on Transmission Lines and Data Centers – Jan. 22, 2024](https://www.pecva.org/wp-content/uploads/purcellville-community-meeting-data-centers-energy-infrastructure-01-22-24-credit-marco-sanchez-pec-03238-1200x-1024x683.webp)
Resources from the Purcellville Community Meeting on Transmission Lines and Data Centers – Jan. 22, 2024
On Monday, Jan. 22, we hosted a community meeting on data centers and energy infrastructure in Purcellville. It was great to have more than 170 people join us at Woodgrove High School to learn more about these important issues, ask questions and share concerns.
![Video: “The Hidden Costs of the Cloud: Data Centers in Virginia”](https://www.pecva.org/wp-content/uploads/200x_16x9_data_center_loudoun_county_august_2023_credit_hugh_kenny_PEC-29-1024x576.webp)
Video: “The Hidden Costs of the Cloud: Data Centers in Virginia”
Virginia is undergoing an unprecedented economic, technological, and environmental transformation, all centered around the activities of one industry: data centers.
![Power Surge: Data center boom leads to expansive transmission proposals](https://www.pecva.org/wp-content/uploads/1200px_substation_transmission_loudoun_county_august_2023_credit_hugh_kenny_PEC-16-1024x767.webp)
Power Surge: Data center boom leads to expansive transmission proposals
We must address the booming data center growth in our state that is requiring unprecedented expansions of our energy grid and hindering our ability to get off of fossil fuels.
![Winter 2023 Piedmont View](https://www.pecva.org/wp-content/uploads/alumni_features_nov_2023_1-1024x819.webp)
Winter 2023 Piedmont View
In this issue: a 2024 General Assembly preview; this year’s photo contest winners; a look at how PEC is bringing distributed solar to farms in the Piedmont; PEC staffer profiles, Out & About; and more.
![Quick Update: Things to Know in Culpeper](https://www.pecva.org/wp-content/uploads/1200px_Culpeper_Credit_Hugh_Kenny9534-1024x683.webp)
Quick Update: Things to Know in Culpeper
Before we get to the end of the year, I want to give you a quick update on some issues we’ve been following in Culpeper.
![Prince William Board to Vote on World’s Largest Data Center Proposal Dec. 12](https://www.pecva.org/wp-content/uploads/digital_gateway_pageland_lane_manassas_battlefield__prince_william_county_drone_credit_hugh_kenny-12-1024x478.webp)
Prince William Board to Vote on World’s Largest Data Center Proposal Dec. 12
Prince William County’s planning staff and the Planning Commission have recommended denial of the Digital Gateway rezonings.
![Resources from the Hillsboro Town Hall on Transmission Lines and Data Centers – Nov. 30, 2023](https://www.pecva.org/wp-content/uploads/hillsboro-town-hall-data-centers-transmission-lines-11-30-23-credit-marco-sanchez-pec-03139-1200x-1024x536.webp)
Resources from the Hillsboro Town Hall on Transmission Lines and Data Centers – Nov. 30, 2023
On Thursday, Nov. 30, PEC hosted more than 150 people in Hillsboro to discuss transmission line and data center proposals in Loudoun.
![Data Centers on the Horizon: What’s the Big Deal?](https://www.pecva.org/wp-content/uploads/Screenshot-2023-11-27-at-12.58.49 PM-1024x640.webp)
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.