Conservationists are worried about the Trump administration’s attacks on the Endangered Species Act — some of Appalachia’s most beloved creatures and plants could soon be at increased risk because of proposed changes to how the law is enforced. #extinction #endangered https://loom.ly/_wp8SdY

#Fluvanna Co. residents are speaking out against Tenaska's proposed gas plant. County leaders will meet on Tues, 1/13, @ 7 pm to review plans for the massive project. Join neighbors to stand up for Fluvanna's air, 💧 & quality of life. RSVP to attend ⬇️ https://loom.ly/2YkHHtc#Fluvanna

#Virginia lawmakers are renewing the push for more energy storage — a move that will make electricity more affordable & reliable for the state. Energy storage helps #VA get the most out of ☀️ & wind energy, ⬇️ costs & improves grid reliability. #VALeg https://loom.ly/Yt0aU18

Two resilience hubs are moving forward in far SW Virginia! ☀️ AppVoices and Google are collaborating to install solar + energy storage tech in Duffield and Dungannon. These hubs will help people stay safe and secure during weather-related disasters and public emergencies. https://loom.ly/Lhyj3TQ

Many households struggle to pay high winter energy bills. Thankfully, LIHEAP helps an estimated six million Americans each year stay safe and warm. But this bipartisan federal assistance program has faced numerous attacks and uncertainty in recent months. https://loom.ly/D0_5chM

Coal miners were close to finally getting stronger protections against deadly silica dust and black lung disease, but the Trump administration delayed implementation and weakened enforcement, leaving miners who voted for him feeling betrayed. #BlackLung https://loom.ly/23IYZNI

#Fluvanna County — home to rolling fields, forests, & the James & Rivanna rivers — is under threat. A proposed massive methane gas plant could harm its land, water & communities. Read how residents are fighting back in this blog post from Jessica Sims ⬇️ loom.ly/on8rAkc

TODAY: We’re hosting a webinar on Tuesday, 1/16, at 6 p.m. to help you get ready for the 2026 Virginia General Assembly by breaking down what’s at stake and how you can stay informed and engaged this session. #VALeg https://loom.ly/ekw6fCQ

Today, the House Appropriations Committee released a bill that proposes withdrawing $500M in funding for abandoned #coal mine clean-up — and using some of the funding for Forest Service operations. These funds are currently committed to cleaning up dangerous coal mine sites. https://loom.ly/vEsN7Y0

#VA regulators have paused approval of #DominionEnergy’s Chesterfield gas plant to review an appeal from community & enviro groups. Opponents say pollution impacts weren’t fully considered & state clean energy & enviro justice laws were ignored. https://loom.ly/Au-iy4E

The 2026 #Virginia General Assembly session is almost here, and the choices lawmakers make will shape our future. Join us Tuesday, Jan. 6 at 6 p.m. for a webinar breaking down what to expect and how you can take action this session. #VALeg Register: https://loom.ly/ekw6fCQ#Virginia

We hope you and your neighbors in White Bluff, Tennessee, will join us for a free, interactive Community Preparedness and Resilience Workshop on Jan. 24 at 10 a.m. CT. RSVP today to let us know if you can make it! 🔗 https://appvoices.org/events/jan-24-community-preparedness-resilience-workshop/

Appalachian Voices wishes you a happy 2026! 🎆 It's a new year, but our work to protect the land, air, water and people of Appalachia didn't pause at midnight. In 2026, we will continue working with our communities to ensure a brighter, healthier future for this region we love.

Although making progress on energy transition can often seem impossible, co-op utilities have the power to make real changes. This means that a significant impact can be made by rural residents, with just a little bit of consistent organizing pressure. https://loom.ly/eJ3BeEg

The Virginia DEQ approved two permits for the Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company’s methane gas pipeline Southeast Supply Enhancement Project despite deep public opposition and serious concerns about the project's environmental and community impact. https://loom.ly/-O4ORtM

One Ohio-based nonprofit, Arc of Appalachia, recently launched a campaign to purchase and protect 1,336 acres in Nicholas County, WV, which includes 5 miles along the Gauley River and 1 mile of Big Beaver Creek. https://loom.ly/Lpg9po8 ✍️: Abby Hassler #GauleyRiver #WestVirginia #Conservation

#WNC residents: Energy Saver #NorthCarolina is offering rebates for #EnergyEfficiency that could help ⬇️ yr electric bill. Rebates can be used to purchase & install energy-efficient appliances & upgrades for your 🏠. Learn more: https://energysavernc.org/

What do salamanders do when the air turns frigid? 🦎❄️ UVA-Wise professor Walter Smith has been observing a particular green salamander for over eight years and shares some of the species' winter survival strategies. https://loom.ly/O8aElj0

Coal miners powered America for generations, but many are now battling black lung. The benefit system is outdated and underfunded. Stand with miners and ask your members of Congress to support the Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act. https://appvoices.org/actions/black-lung-benefits-2025/

#MountainValleyPipeline is moving ➡️ w/ a new compressor station in Montgomery Co., raising concerns about noise, emissions & other impacts. On 12/15, county leaders voted to oppose the project, urging fed regulators to reject it. Read more ⬇️ #NoMVPBoost https://loom.ly/pSS11kk#MountainValleyPipeline

We deer-ly hope you’ll consider #donating to Appalachian Voices before the end of the year. ❄️🦌 Your contribution funds our work to protect our land, air, water, & communities, & supports our commitment to a #CleanEnergy transition in #Appalachia. 🔗 https://appvoices.org/donate/

All of us on the Appalachian Voices team wish you a happy holiday season! ❄️

A rule to cut deadly silica dust in mines was finalized in 2024, but the Trump administration has indefinitely delayed it even as black lung is rising among miners at younger ages. 👉 Tell Congress to protect workers’ health now! https://appvoices.org/actions/silica-2025/

The highly controversial $1.47 billion natural gas plant Dominion Energy plans to build in Chesterfield County has cleared yet another developmental hurdle. More from Ryan Nadeau at @wric.com: https://loom.ly/xO3b9MQ

Virginia DEQ approved an air permit for Dominion’s Chesterfield Energy Reliability Center, a 944-megawatt methane gas plant. This approval follows thousands of public comments submitted in opposition to the polluting project. https://appvoices.org/2025/12/22/chesterfield-air-permit/

From the Eastern hellbender to the Carolina northern flying squirrel, many of Appalachia’s most beloved creatures and plants may soon be at risk due to four proposed changes to the #EndangeredSpeciesAct by the Trump administration. https://loom.ly/_wp8SdY

🎙️ Congratulations to Appalachian Voices' Kevin Zedack and Matt Hepler! Their podcast on revitalizing abandoned mine lands was EESI’s most popular podcast of 2025, highlighting how mine reclamation restores land, protects communities and sparks economic opportunity. https://loom.ly/PFJLvhk

Senate appropriators voted to redirect funds meant for mine reclamation. The Senate's budget proposal would cut $750 million from abandoned mine cleanup and lead pipe replacement, despite ongoing threats to clean drinking water and community safety. https://loom.ly/Hgjeoes

This holiday season, let's remember the workers who cleaned up TVA’s Kingston coal ash spill. After TVA’s dike broke 17 years ago on Dec. 22, workers spent six years cleaning up the toxic spill. Hundreds of the cleanup workers are sick, & 60+ have died. More on rememberkingston.org

Environmental protections are under attack, but Appalachian Voices is standing strong. Please help us continue our work. 💚 Make your tax-deductible #donation today! https://appvoices.org/donate/

💡 It’s not too late to claim #CleanEnergy & #EnergyEfficiency tax credits before they expire at the end of 2025! Improvements like insulation, better windows, or energy-efficient heat pumps & appliances can ⬇️ your bills & put 💵 back in your pocket. https://loom.ly/1wlhjGg

Our work is possible because of people like you. Despite incredible headwinds, 2025 has been a year of progress. Hear from some members of our team about what we have accomplished this past year. 💚 https://appvoices.org/donate/

#DukeEnergy is asking #NC regulators to approve a major rate 📈 & ⬆️ profits — even as disconnections are increasing across the state. The proposal could add a substantial amount to annual customer bills as many households struggle to keep the 💡 on. https://loom.ly/BGguUts

💡 Looking to save on energy costs? Virginia Energy Connect is a one-stop hub for rebates, and support for things like energy-saving upgrades, weatherization modifications and more. https://energy.virginia.gov/connect/

Hear from Teresa, a landowner impacted by Enbridge's pipeline development in TN. She requested anonymity due to fear of retribution from the multibillion-dollar fossil fuel company. Her voice has been edited to maintain this anonymity. More on The Appalachian Voice: https://loom.ly/Wm4LRrQ

Virginia Natural Gas just got its third rate increase in six years. While regulators reduced the hike, higher bills will still hit customers — especially low-income households. https://appvoices.org/2025/12/19/vng-rate-case/

#VA regulators are re-examining #DominionEnergy’s proposed gas plant in #Chesterfield Co. after an appeal from enviro & community groups, saying the State Corporation Commission didn’t fully consider pollution impacts on nearby communities. #NoNewGasPlants https://loom.ly/7rlDjgks

#BlackLung is back at epidemic levels, but the rule to cut miners' exposure to deadly silica dust is being delayed. Making a phone call is one of the best ways to let members of Congress know an issue is important to you! Please call Sen. Capito at (202) 224-6472. https://loom.ly/fngccxA

Local voices are weighing in on the Mountain Valley Pipeline Boost Project — from ranchers concerned about impacts on livestock to to researchers citing studies about low-income community members' exposure to pollution. loom.ly/rflVUGI

Today, FERC announced its approval of an amendment to change the route, pipe diameter and gas-carrying capacity for the MVP Southgate, proposed for VA and NC. The approval comes despite strong opposition to the project. #NoMVPSouthgate https://loom.ly/TfsjBKM

With utility costs continuing to rise and it becoming increasingly expensive to make ends meet, Congress must continue to fund the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, and ensure that it has the staff it needs to carry out its mission. ❄️ https://loom.ly/D0_5chM

2️⃣ important pipeline events happening in #Virginia, tomorrow, 12/18: ⏰ 12 pm online: MVP Boost Comment Workshop Join @AppVoices & partners to learn how to ✍️ & submit yr comment against the MVP Boost compressor station project. Get the tools you need to make your 🗣️ heard! loom.ly/ZSIBAAc

"Residential customers should not be subsidizing these wealthy companies, & Virginians are relying on the commission to address these fundamental questions of fairness,” said @appvoices.org Peter Anderson in this Virginian Pilot editorial. https://loom.ly/nARSaDc

#NorthCarolina communities have spent over a year fighting the dangerous SSEP pipeline. Guilford, Forsyth & Davidson counties, Midway, & Greensboro have all raised concerns. Tell Gov. Stein to stop this polluting project! Take action ⬇️ #NoSSEP https://loom.ly/3dV8WIw#NorthCarolina

Today, U.S. senators and representatives introduced two bills to help coal miners with #BlackLung disease apply for medical and disability benefits, while also raising the amount miners with black lung and their families receive in disability benefits each month. https://loom.ly/QwuzVsk

Bolstering solar power is the fastest way to add new electricity to the grid, helping meet rising demand while keeping costs from skyrocketing, according to #Virginia Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger.

AmeriCorps programs across Appalachia were thrown into disarray this year after $400M in federal grants were abruptly canceled. Here’s how it unfolded and why it matters: https://appvoices.org/2025/12/09/living-the-americorps-dream/ ✍️ Carl Blankenship

#NorthCarolina leaders are pushing back against #DukeEnergy’s plan to raise electric rates around 15% over the next two years. Public hearings on the proposal are expected in 2026 before the #NC Utilities Commission makes a decision. https://loom.ly/5GKBeAY

#MountainValleyPipeline is pushing a massive compressor station expansion called “MVP Boost.” Fed regulators just opened a comment period 4 the public to weigh in. Join @AppVoices & friends for a workshop on 12/18 @ 12 pm to submit a strong comment! RSVP⬇️ https://loom.ly/ZSIBAAc

Yesterday, a #Senate committee delayed its vote on #Nashville businessman Lee Beaman’s nomination to the board of the #TennesseeValleyAuthority. Committee members are pressing him over his political and business ties. Read more: https://loom.ly/RRGoF5k