Energy Matters

PEC is working to support an energy system that is smarter, more efficient and better accounts for the negative externalities arising from the choices we make about energy consumption, generation, transmission and distribution.

We are advocating for a more distributed system that is less reliant on distant generating sources and incorporates a mix of local renewable power — customer owned, community based and utility scale. Recognizing Virginia is in the early stages of its energy transition, we believe now is the time to reimagine and rebuild our energy system in a way that is just and fair to all residents and ratepayers.

Hidden Costs of the Cloud: Data Centers in Virginia

Data Centers & Energy Demand

Virginia is undergoing a massive economic, technological, and environmental transformation, all centered around the activities of one industry: data centers …
Energy Efficiency & Conservation

Energy Efficiency & Conservation

Be a part of the energy solution—find out how you can participate in reducing demand. Learn about 10 easy, do-it-yourself …
solar panel banner image

Solarize Piedmont

For a limited time each year, residents and businesses within PEC’s nine-county service area can take advantage of Solarize Piedmont …
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 …
A black cow grazes in front of rows of solar panels.

Better Solar through HB206

That’s why we successfully advocated for HB206—legislation that requires solar developers to offset the negative impacts of large solar projects on water quality and agricultural and forested lands. Since that legislation passed in 2022, PEC …
Shining a Light on Agrivoltaics at Roundabout Meadows

Shining a Light on Agrivoltaics at Roundabout Meadows

This spring, the Piedmont Environmental Council will unveil a project at our Community Farm at Roundabout Meadows with the potential to revolutionize the relationship between the agricultural lands that make up the heart of the …
Commission Study Confirms that Energy Demand is Out of Control, Threatening The Community with Higher Costs and Impacts Across the State and Beyond

Commission Study Confirms that Energy Demand is Out of Control, Threatening The Community with Higher Costs and Impacts Across the State and Beyond

We applaud the commission’s work over the past year to assess the scope of economic, energy, and environmental impacts due to explosive data center growth. But their analysis of the impact on communities, the environment …
| | Data Centers, Press Center
A substation being built next to the WO&D Trail. Photo by Hugh Kenny

Commentary: Dominion, data centers are fleecing ratepayers

PEC President, Chris Miller, recently wrote an op-ed in the Richmond Times-Dispatch about the energy “crisis by contract” created by Dominion Energy and the data center industry …
| | Amazon, Data Centers, Data centers, Dominion
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 …
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 …
The Virginia SCC has forced Transparency Out of Dominion Energy

The Virginia SCC has forced Transparency Out of Dominion Energy

The State Corporation Commission required Dominion to supplement its Oct. 15, 2024, Integrated Resource Plan with modeling plans that meet the requirements of the Virginia Clean Economy Act and show scenarios without data center load …
More Shenanagins at Clevenger's Corner

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 …