According to the Piedmont Environmental Council, Virginia is undergoing a massive transformation centered around the activities of one industry: data centers.
The industry is growing at a rapid rate, requiring huge amounts of energy, land, and water to operate. As a result, communities across the state are experiencing significant impacts.
Julie Bolthouse will discuss the feedback she's hearing from residents in Virginia, the organization's demands of the state legislature, and other factors to consider in the midst of this quickly moving landscape.
Julie Bolthouse is the Director of Land Use with Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC), a locally based, donor supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit and an accredited land trust. She manages local field staff who work in the environmental non-profit's nine county region that includes Clarke, Loudoun, Rappahannock, Fauquier, Culpeper, Orange, Madison, Greene, and Albemarle counties in Virginia.
As the Director of Land Use, Julie coordinates the organization's advocacy on state and local policies to promote smart growth and climate action while conserving and preserving the natural resources, local food system, history, and beauty of the Virginia Piedmont. A professional advocate for sustainability through thoughtful land use decisions, Julie has been with PEC for 13 years and holds a B.S. in Fisheries Science with a minor in Watershed Management, a Masters degree in Urban and Regional Planning, and a second Masters degree in Natural Resources all from Virginia Tech. She is a lifelong resident of Virginia and grew up in Northern Virginia where she now lives with her family.
