PEC updates on Culpeper solar, data centers, advocacy

The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) reports recent wins and ongoing challenges in Culpeper County around solar policy, data center zoning, and citizen advocacy opportunities during Virginia’s 2026 legislative session.

• Solar & net metering: Culpeper County earned a Silver SolSmart designation in April 2025 and became one of the first Virginia counties to use SolarAPP+ for faster rooftop solar permits, while PEC urges residents to submit comments to the Virginia SCC by Jan. 13, 2026 opposing Dominion Energy’s petition (PUR-2025-00079) to halve net-metering credits and to testify at the Jan. 20 evidentiary hearing.
• Data centers & advocacy days: Following PEC-backed pressure, the Culpeper Board of Supervisors removed data centers as by-right uses and the Town Council created a Data Center Overlay limiting new facilities to already-approved parcels, while PEC and the Data Center Reform Coalition will host a Data Center Reform Lobby Day in Richmond on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, complemented by VCN’s Conservation Lobby Day on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, with buses/carpools offered for Northern Virginia participants.