Join our partners for "Communities Over Corporate Profits: How We Win" on Sunday, March 8, in #Durham's Central Park to celebrate environmental wins across #NorthCarolina! Learn more: https://appvoices.org/events/march-8-communities-over-corporate-profit#Durham

For decades, environmental laws like the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act have helped to ensure that our water is safe to drink and our air is safe to breathe. But we can’t take this for granted. These fundamental environmental protections are currently under attack. https://loom.ly/PW4kRJA

#Roanoke City Public Schools continue expanding their #solar capacity! Recently, the Roanoke schools were awarded a grant to build a solar #microgrid with a battery energy storage system for emergency shelters. We love to see it! https://loom.ly/om1IzK8

What the heck is going on at #TVA? 🤔 Bri Knisley of Appalachian Voices covers TVA's recent decision go all-in on coal, and how President Trump is using the TVA board of directors to cut the public out of the public power process — and how they may be making moves to privatize TVA.

UPDATE: After years of secrecy, @microsoft.com finally admitted it's building a data center at the 1,350 acre site it purchased in Person County, NC. This data center is part of the justification for building a new gas plant near an elementary school. 🧵

Join staff from Appalachian Voices as well as Invest Appalachia and Mountain Empire Older Citizens for the "Building Our Strength: Growing Community Led Disaster Resilience in SWVA" panel on Wednesday, March 25, at 4:15 p.m. For more details: https://loom.ly/o8LUZSQ

We're proud to be one of the sponsors of the fifth annual #Boone Docs Film Festival! Join us Friday and Saturday this week at the Appalachian Theatre for a celebration of short documentaries that lift up stories from Appalachia. https://loom.ly/Xpzl28k#Boone

As a longtime Sierra Club member and an organizer with his church, Bob Egbert has worked on a wide range of issues in Virginia, including bringing Amtrak service to Roanoke, fighting the Mountain Valley Pipeline, and promoting clean energy and environmental stewardship. https://loom.ly/byMjm8I

A new report from @appcitizenslaw.bsky.social and Appalachian Voices shows federal black lung disability benefits are not keeping up with the cost of living. Miners and advocates have been fighting for improvements to the system that would tie benefits to inflation. https://loom.ly/yIP6tcE

After facing a swell of concern from residents about the enviro & health impacts of Tenaska's proposed massive gas power plant, the #Fluvanna Co. Planning Commission voted against the project on Tuesday night. https://loom.ly/gIPdqk4

Yesterday, we joined Sierra Club, Wild Virginia and the Center for Biological Diversity in launching a legal challenge to Virginia regulators' approval of Mountain Valley Pipeline's Southgate extension. #NoMVPSouthgate https://appvoices.org/2026/02/23/va-southgate-401-challenge/

Soon, the #VA legislature will vote on bills that could determine what kind of impact the data center industry has on our communities, our 🩺 & our electric grid. Tell yr legislators: Put communities and the environment before data centers! #VALeg https://loom.ly/5gbJMXM#VA

Our new policy platform calls for greater transparency, accountability and public trust in the nation’s largest federally owned utility — just as TVA moved to extend the life of several major coal-fired power plants. https://loom.ly/mF4PLX0 ➡️ Read the policy platform: https://loom.ly/FJwMbKM

“TVA already found these coal plants to be uneconomical & unreliable, & that hasn’t changed just because the administration wants to keep coal online. For TVA to take this action without public input is contrary to the public power model these new board members all recently affirmed." — Leah McCord

#Fluvanna Co. residents like Tracey are speaking out against plans to build a massive methane gas power plant. On Tues., 2/24, county leaders are considering changing the county code to permit the project. Join Fluvanna residents in saying no to Tenaska's gas plant. RSVP: https://loom.ly/TH0Wwbg

“This decision is salt in the wound after ignoring widespread calls for cleaner, cheaper replacements for the Kingston and Cumberland coal plants," said Gabi Lichtenstein of Appalachian Voices. @apnews.com

Celebrate #Appalachian life by attending the 2026 #Boone Docs Film Festival Feb. 27-28 at the Appalachian Theatre. This FREE event promises to be full of inspiring documentaries, filmmaker Q&A's & a community celebration of stories that reflect the ❤️ & soul of the region. https://loom.ly/2F1iNQI

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a permit for Transco's Southeast Supply Enhancement Project, a methane gas pipeline. The permit, issued under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, authorizes Transco to cut crossings through more than 150 streams and wetlands. #NoSSEP

Extra! Extra! Read all about the latest news from Southwest Virginia's New Economy in the latest edition of the Mountain Ascent newsletter. Be sure to subscribe to keep up with all the latest news and updates: https://appvoices.org/ascent/

This week, we passed the midpoint of the #Virginia General Assembly session known as crossover. We're excited to announce that more than a dozen bills of our priority bills have survived crossover! #VALeg Learn more: https://appvoices.org/vaga-2026

The federal government is rolling back strengthened Ten-Day Notice protections that were implemented in 2024, making it harder for coalfield communities to get federal help addressing mining violations like water contamination and erosion. https://loom.ly/F8ByWnc

The Trump administration has proposed a rule change that could drastically limit the scope of the Clean Water Act, eliminating protections for most wetlands nationwide. In Appalachia, this would harm wildlife, damage water quality and increase flood risk. ✍️: Dan Radmacher

South Fork Coal Company failed to show up to a Feb. 3 hearing with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection regarding an array of long-standing violations at the company’s mines. #Monongahela #WV #Coal

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement announced $120 million in abandoned mine land reclamation grants last week. This is great news for Appalachian coal communities working to clean up old mines, but Congress must do more. https://loom.ly/WJuMmDA

What if a reclaimed mountaintop removal coal mine became a bison habitat? Bison once roamed Appalachia. This summer, Appalachian Rekindling Project is working to bring them back to #EKY. 🦬 Oh, and the property falls within the designated boundaries of the proposed site for a fed prison. 👀

The Beast of Bristol is back. Or rather, the landfill’s impact and its intense odors, which have grown less frequent but never fully dissipated for some residents, have been recognized in a new federal public health agency report.

We’re proud to be the fiscal sponsor of the Appalachian Solar Finance Fund and to share its 2025 Impact Report! The report shows how practical financing tools are helping community-serving institutions lower operating costs and keep more wealth circulating locally. https://loom.ly/GsZCW5g

Dozens of West Virginia residents held a rally outside the West Virginia State Capitol to demand that the legislature take action to address the growing clean water crisis affecting the state’s southern coalfields. #WaterForWV #CCWA #CoalfieldCleanWater

Join us and Clean Water for North Carolina on Thursday, Feb. 26, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Midway Church in Lexington for a public meeting on the SSEP pipeline actions you can take to protect your community from potential new methane gas power plants. https://loom.ly/VtVRHhk

Today, much of the country has clean air and access to clean water. But instead of making our communities healthier by ensuring we all have clean air and water, Congress and the Trump administration are attempting to gut our core environmental protections. https://loom.ly/PW4kRJA

On Monday, the Virginia state Senate will vote on SB 619, which would require massive new energy users like data centers to get approval from the State Corporation Commission before connecting to the grid. Tell your legislators: Vote YES on SB 619! https://loom.ly/Wz6ANm0

💘 Everybody loves clean water! Right now, the EPA is threatening to undermine 50 years of progress we've made under the #CleanWaterAct by weakening state power to protect our rivers, streams & drinking 💧. Sign our petition telling the EPA not to weaken the CWA! https://loom.ly/QZG9UWQ

A&G Coal claimed in court it was $41 million in debt and unable to meet a 2023 settlement, but records assert it has $9M+ in net assets, $30M+ in investments and operational revenue of more than $27M. Conservation groups are asking a federal court for scrutiny. Read more: https://loom.ly/2aGD7TY

Don’t let the Tennessee Valley Authority cut the PUBLIC out of public power! 🚨 TVA updated procedures to drastically reduce public involvement — and, in some cases, completely eliminate it — in decisions affecting our air, land, water and wallets.

“The reason the coal industry is in long-term decline is that #coal is simply no longer an economic resource for electricity generation compared to cheaper alternatives, particularly renewable resources like wind and solar,” said AV Executive Director Tom Cormons. https://loom.ly/W0t0Q4o

As winter drags on, many #NorthCarolina families are struggling with rising energy costs. With #DukeEnergy seeking rate hikes this season, the pressure is only growing. Utilities and regulators should prioritize affordability, not profit. https://loom.ly/tbP5O8s

America’s clean 💧 is at risk. We need your voice to protect it! Right now, the #EnvironmentalProtectionAgency is moving to weaken the #CleanWaterAct — threatening local control & public health. Sign our petition to tell the EPA: Protect our water! https://loom.ly/QZG9UWQ

West Virginia residents are invited to join our friend, From Below: Rising Together for Coalfield Justice, at the West Virginia State Capitol to call on elected leaders to take action on the Coalfield Clean Water Act on Monday, Feb. 16, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. https://loom.ly/qIEY_As #WaterForWV

Today, the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors voted unanimously to continue operating its Kingston and Cumberland #coal plants indefinitely, instead of retiring them as it brings new gas power plants online at the same sites. https://appvoices.org/2026/02/11/tva-cuts-the-public-out/

Thanks, @repcohen.bsky.social, for calling on TVA to pause its vote on changes to the Kingston and Cumberland coal plants until the public can weigh in. https://loom.ly/6coIe4Q

Appalachian Voices is #hiring! We’re looking for a Human Resources Manager to oversee our HR practices and processes that support our team members. 🗓️: For early consideration, apply by March 2. 🔗 Apply now: https://appalachian.bamboohr.com/careers/56

The #EPA announced it will issue a final rule on Thursday attempting to dramatically limit its responsibility to regulate the pollution that causes #ClimateChange, which is worsening dangerous flooding events, extreme droughts and heat waves throughout #Appalachia & beyond. https://loom.ly/151bIcc#EPA

Last year, Pound, VA, received $ to create a labor-oriented monument downtown. Community members were deeply involved in shaping the project, which features the work of regional artists. 🎉 More in The Appalachian Voice: https://appvoices.org/2026/01/15/coal-labor-history-sets-stage-for-community/

#BreakingNews: #TVA announced it is planning to keep its Kingston and Cumberland coal plants operating for the foreseeable future, blowing by its upcoming deadlines to close the polluting facilities.

Our new #TVA policy platform provides leaders and lawmakers with a framework to ensure the nation’s largest federally owned utility and regional economic driver can continue to provide affordable, safe and reliable electricity while building trust with the people it serves. https://loom.ly/FJwMbKM

TVA's board of directors now has a quorum and can resume business as usual. With the reintroduction of a controversial board nominee, its long-term energy plan in flux and transparency bills pending in Congress, what is next for this public power provider? #TVA https://loom.ly/wMl-bkk

#Virginia gives data centers billions in tax breaks while electricity bills & pollution rise. Tell VA lawmakers: data centers must pay their fair share & meet #CleanEnergy standards. #VALeg https://loom.ly/9S_B-2U

AmeriCorps is offering a year-long VISTA position that will serve with the Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia and Appalachian Voices. If you have any questions, contact [email protected]. #SWVA #GreenJobs https://appvoices.org/careers/

The Monongahela National Forest’s headwaters help supply drinking water throughout West Virginia and beyond. Our friends at West Virginia Rivers are working to secure permanent Wild & Scenic protection for these vital waterways. https://act.wvrivers.org/a/wild-and-scenic

Monuments Across Appalachian Virginia, funded by the Mellon Foundation and hosted by @virginiatech.bsky.social, features nine monuments that explore different forms and a variety of the region’s stories. https://loom.ly/kJesf9M