“At the beginning of this year, she started hearing an eerie hum that got louder at night. Brookes thought it sounded like someone doing lawn work constantly, but she had no idea what it was — until neighbors told her the noise came from the data centers that have earned the county the nickname Data Center Alley.”
WAVY-TV: “The College of William & Mary announced it’s expanding enrollment to support first-generation and limited-income college students.School administrators said a new initiative called the Commonwealth Impact Partnership Program, launched this semester.”
“According to a press release, the program is aimed at high schools identified by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) to participate in the Virginia College Application Week initiative each fall.’
Virginia Mercury: “Virginia’s State Water Control Board amended regulations last week that will require local governments in the same river basin to work together in crafting plans for water supply and use.”
“Previously, the state allowed local governments to choose whether they wanted to submit such plans independently or work with other localities in a regional approach. Plans must include existing water sources, water use and environmental conditions, any actions being taken to manage water supply and drought response plans, among other information.”
“BEVs [battery electric vehicles] are stacking up on our lots,” the auto dealers stated in the letter. “Last year, there was a lot of hope and hype about EVs. Early adopters formed an initial line and were ready to buy these vehicles as soon as we had them to sell. But that enthusiasm has stalled. Today, the supply of unsold BEVs is surging, as they are not selling nearly as fast as they are arriving at our dealerships – even with deep price cuts, manufacturer incentives, and generous government incentives.”
3:15 p.m. update — A Bealton man died in a plane crash on Sunday.
Virginia State Police responded to a report of a plane crash in Fauquier County. The crash occurred Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, at 3:54 p.m., near Midland Road and Ebenezer Church Road, near the Warrenton-Fauquier Airport.
VDOT: “While snow might not be at the top of most people’s minds right now, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is at the height of preparation for the upcoming winter season. Equipment, materials and staffing are in place and ready to go the moment winter weather arrives.”
“Those traveling in and through the Commonwealth can be confident in VDOT’s preparedness as the seasons change,” said VDOT Chief of Maintenance and Operations Kevin Gregg. “With more than 57,000 lane miles of roadway to maintain across the Commonwealth, our focus remains on the safety of the traveling public, especially during inclement weather. Recent operational improvements mean our crews are trained, experienced and equipped to get the job done when snow arrives.”
Virginia State Police: “Virginia experienced a 53% decrease in the number of fatal traffic crashes over the 2023 Thanksgiving holiday.? Preliminary data indicates nine people lost their lives over the five-day holiday statistical counting period, compared to 19 fatalities in 2022. In a majority of the crashes, those who died were not wearing a seat belt.”
“During the five-day counting period, which began at 12:01 a.m. Nov. 22, 2023, and concluded at midnight Nov. 26, 2023, nine people lost their lives to eight traffic crashes on Virginia roadways.? The crashes occurred in Amelia, Buchanan, Fairfax, Henrico, Henry, Madison, and Wythe counties, as well as the city of Chesapeake.”
Virginia is home to the largest data center market in the world, but citizens and lawmakers have urged leaders to temper the onslaught of development and consider the impact.
Data centers have brought hundreds of millions in tax revenue and thousands of jobs to Northern Virginia, and increasingly, other areas of the state. But among environmental groups, there is mounting concern that the rapid growth of the industry might offset climate goals laid out in past legislation.
“The report from the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), provides a breakdown of energy prices throughout the United States while demonstrating the relationship between big government policies and high energy costs.”
The report comes after Prince William County adopted a sustainability master plan to reduce the effects of climate change by 2025. According to the plan, by 2023, Prince William County will reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 50 percent and switch to 100 percent renewable electricity in Prince William County Government operations.
Department of Motor Vehicles: “All Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) full-service customer service centers will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday from Thursday, November 23 through Saturday, November 25, and will reopen on Monday, November 27.”
