Don’t be mistaken: Taxpayers are paying for these big data centers “What we know historically about fossil fuel plants is they’re placed in poor communities, and black and brown communities.” Virginia’s data centers have raised environmental concerns as they consume significant energy to support their operations. The energy demand from these facilities results in carbon… Read more
This is the letter sent after the comment period on the PFAS discharges from a plant in Scottsville leaking PFAS into the James River. Dear Austin Galbraith: I am submitting these comments on behalf of Wild Virginia and our members and supporters across the state. We object to issuance of the referenced permit as currently… Read more
If we’re critically thinking about it – mushrooms have incredible properties and life saving attributes (umm, hello penicillin). Penicillin G was first made from a penicillium fungus that occurs in nature. Mushrooms show us that our environment is far from binary. Enter queer ecology: an emerging field that seeks to explore the connections between ecological… Read more
Wild Virginia is encouraging the public to let the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) know that we want it to prevent per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from being released to the James River in Scottsville. Tune in to this podcast on what the status is on PFAS bills from this legislative session, and how… Read more
Pollutants in drinking water can pose serious health risks if consumed in high concentrations. Common pollutants found in drinking water include heavy metals like lead, mercury, and arsenic, as well as chemicals like pesticides and industrial solvents. These contaminants can enter water sources through various means such as agricultural runoff, industrial discharge, and improper waste… Read more
The public has a chance to tell officials that we want them to enforce the law, to protect people and the environment from PFAS being discharged to the James River in Scottsville. PFAS are a class of dangerous contaminants commonly known as “forever chemicals” and samples collected at a treatment plant operated by the Rivanna… Read more
Growing awareness of human impact on the environment in the 1960’s and 1970’s propelled an important cultural shift in how we relate to nature and how we should be managing the effects of technology, industry, and population growth. Environmental ethics is a branch of philosophy that deals with the moral obligations that humans have towards… Read more
At a meeting of the Virginia State Water Control Board on February 23, 2024, members of the public asked the Board to tell the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to enforce the law and to stop degradation of our streams, our properties, and our drinking water sources caused by Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP). Citizens presented… Read more
Virginia, like many other states, faces a variety of environmental issues that require attention and action. One significant concern is water quality, particularly related to pollution from agricultural runoff, urban stormwater, and industrial sources. Efforts to protect and restore the health of waterways such as the Chesapeake Bay are ongoing, with initiatives aimed at reducing… Read more
Do you enjoy watching cottontail rabbits scurry through your yard, hearing red foxes bark in the woods at night, and even fishing for catfish in the creek? If so, you may be concerned to find out that the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment is negatively impacting these beloved Virginia species…. Read more