Culpeper County – The Piedmont Environmental Council

From the Rappahannock to the Rapidan, PEC works to protect Culpeper’s rural character, environment and historic resources.

Data Centers

Culpeper has already approved over 10 million square feet of new data center space. These facilities can use massive quantities of water and electricity and will bring new transmission lines that crisscross the farms, battlefields and forests that support our vibrant tourism industry and define our sense of place. As these industrial buildings encroach on residential neighborhoods, their noise, appearance and night lighting will likely impact the value of homes. View Culpeper data center map →

Elected officials must better understand the full impacts of data center approvals, or risk forfeiting all the work we’ve done as a community to build the vibrant tourism economy we enjoy and the landscape that makes Culpeper a special place where people want to live, work and play. Learn more about data centers in Virginia →

Write the Board of Supervisors

Write the Town Council – Copper Ridge

Write the Virginia General Assembly

Project Name	Status	Acres	Square Feet	Load in Megawatts*	Town/County
XX Tech Park	Pending	426	4,638,704	900	County
Red Ace XI (Keyser Farm)	Approved – 2024	69	1,506,582	300	County
Cielo	Approved – 2023	122	2,400,000	300	County
Copper Ridge	Approved – 2023	117	2,200,000	600	Town
Culpeper Technology Campus	Approved – 2023	155	2,100,000	600	Town and County
Marvell	Under Construction- Approved 2021	223	445,000	135	County
Databank (Red Ace)	Approved – 2019	85	1,299,804	192	County
CloudHQ	Approved – 2018	99	2,100,000	275	County
Equinix	Built	64	370,000	unknown	County
Swift	Built	30	90,000	unknown	Town
Total		1,391	17,150,090	3,302

*Load in megawatts is estimated by the size of facilities or reported by the developer or electrical provider.

Interested in a yard sign?

The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) has a limited number of Save Culpeper – Stop Data Center Sprawl yard signs available, and we are trying to determine how many more signs to order! Please help us gauge community interest by letting us know if you would like to put a sign on your property. Once we have more signs in hand we will reach out to those who have filled out this interest form with drop-off or pick-up options.

Free Conservation Lecture Series at the Culpeper County Library

AUG. 8 UPDATE: Due to weather concerns, we are canceling this evening’s lecture at the Culpeper County Library, Bringing Back Grassland Birds. We apologize for any inconvenience! Stay safe and enjoy the much-needed rain. Join …

April 26, 2024 | PEC

aerial image of downtown Culpeper in the evening

Culpeper Co.: December 2024 Updates

This year, we made a concerted effort to better inform the Culpeper community about local events. We have some good news to shhare with you about decisions that were only achieved through strong community engagement …

December 20, 2024 | Sarah Parmelee | Conserving Land, Culpeper County, Data Centers, Data centers, Energy Matters, Our Region, Our Work, Planning and Zoning

2024 Highlights: By the Numbers

PEC’s dedicated staff work relentlessly to advance land conservation, sound land use planning, the protection of natural resources and better climate and energy policy …

A group of people stands in front of a red ribbon which has just been cut with ceremonial scissors. People are smiling, laughing, clapping.

On The Ground Updates – December 2024

A series of short updates from around the PEC region – Albemarle & Charlottesville, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Greene, Loudoun, Madison, Orange & Rappahannock. Albemarle & Charlottesville After many years of resident input and advocacy by PEC and others for more open space and access to …

December 16, 2024 | PEC | Albemarle County & the City of Charlottesville, Clarke County, Comprehensive Plans, Culpeper County, Data centers, Fauquier County, Greene County, Loudoun County, Madison County, Orange County, Parks and Trails, Rappahannock County, The Piedmont View, Water Supply Planning

Thumbnail image with a drone photo of Wilderness Battlefield split down the middle by a drone photo of a data center under construction. Text across the center of the image reads "Parks & Battlefields at Risk."

Video: Virginia’s Parks and Battlefields are at Risk

Virginia’s state and national parks, battlefields, and other historic and recreational sites are under threat from uncontrolled data center development. One notable example is Wilderness Battlefield, in Orange County, which was named one of America’s …

November 25, 2024 | Hugh Kenny | Culpeper County, Data Centers, Dominion, Energy Matters, Historic & Scenic Landscapes, Historic preservation, Maps & Resources, Orange County, Our Region, Our Work, Parks and Trails, Prince William County, Regional, State and National, Video

aerial image of downtown Culpeper in the spring, during a sunset

Culpeper Updates: Opportunities to Protect Farmland and Uphold Data Center Noise Standards

Your action at both the Town and County levels can directly help keep Culpeper rural and protect residents in the Town from industrial noise pollution …

November 19, 2024 | Sarah Parmelee | Culpeper County, Data Centers, Data centers, Energy Matters, Planning and Zoning

More Shenanagins at Clevenger’s Corner

You may be familiar with the ongoing development at the corner of Route 229 and 211 known as Clevenger’s Corner. This 770+ house residential and commercial development was initially approved in 2005 and took almost …

November 11, 2024 | Sarah Parmelee | Culpeper County, Data Centers, Data centers, Fauquier County, Planning and Zoning, Rappahannock County, Strong Communities

On The Ground Updates – September 2024

A series of short updates from around the PEC region – Albemarle & Charlottesville, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Greene, Loudoun, Madison, Orange & Rappahannock …

October 10, 2024 | PEC | AC44, Albemarle County & the City of Charlottesville, Clarke County, Comprehensive Plans, Culpeper County, Data centers, Fauquier County, Greene County, Loudoun County, Madison County, Orange County, Our Region, Parks and Trails, Rappahannock County, Solar, The Piedmont View, Utility-scale solar

Update on Data Centers in Culpeper and Invite to Upcoming Rooftop Solar Lecture

I’m writing today to share some good news, some hopeful developments in our continued fight against the relentless industrialization of Culpeper by the data center industry, and an invitation to our ongoing lecture series at …

June 24, 2024 | Sarah Parmelee | Comprehensive Plans, Culpeper County, Data Centers, Dominion, Energy Matters, Planning and Zoning, Strong Communities, Transmission

Thinking about Solar for Your Home?

By investing in rooftop solar for your home, you can save money, protect yourself from rising utility rates and, when paired with a backup battery, create “off the grid” energy independence …

June 4, 2024 | Ashish Kapoor | Albemarle County & the City of Charlottesville, Clarke County, Culpeper County, Energy Matters, Fauquier County, Greene County, Loudoun County, Madison County, Orange County, Prince William County, Rappahannock County, Solarize Piedmont

aerial photo of fields, trees and large pond with mountains and sunset in background

New data center proposals in Brandy Station and near the Town of Culpeper

We are urging Culpeper residents to weigh in at upcoming public hearings on June 4 and 12 or via email and ask that each proposal be denied …

May 30, 2024 | Sarah Parmelee | Culpeper County, Data Centers, Dominion, Energy Matters, Historic preservation, Strong Communities