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Appalachian Voices
@appvoices.org
A leading force in Appalachia’s shift from fossil fuels to clean energy, healthy communities and 21st-century local economies.

https://linktr.ee/appalachianvoices
Last night, North Carolina's Davidson County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution expressing concern about Transco’s proposed methane gas SSEP pipeline. 🎉

🔗 https://appvoices.org/2025/12/09/davidson-county-passes-resolution-on-ssep/
Davidson County Board of Commissioners passes resolution expressing concern on Transco’s SSEP 
SSEP, if permitted and built, would include 10 miles of 42-inch-wide pipeline in Davidson County and a large expansion of the gas-fired compressor station northwest of Lexington. 
appvoices.org
December 9, 2025 at 9:30 PM
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December 9, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Listen to @repyassansari.bsky.social expressing concern about the SPEED Act before the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee. 🔈
December 9, 2025 at 4:19 PM
#VA + #NC lawmakers are urging fed regulators to fully review both MVP Southgate and the Transco pipeline expansion called SSEP.

Two major gas pipelines planned side-by-side = big risks for communities and waterways. #NoSSEP #NoMVPSouthgate
https://loom.ly/2xt7-MI
Dueling pipeline extension projects draw concerns from Va. congressional reps • Virginia Mercury
Lawmakers raise concerns about environmental impacts of two pipeline extension projects.
virginiamercury.com
December 9, 2025 at 2:41 PM
The Tennessee Valley Authority needs real leadership on its board, not Lee Beaman!

He has no relevant experience, sex scandal baggage and a Senate confirmation battle. He was also Mike Johnson’s landlord.
Lee Beaman is up for a spot on the Tennessee Valley Authority’s board of directors. His résumé — what’s on it and what’s not on it — may get in the way.
www.ms.now
December 8, 2025 at 9:33 PM
On Wed, 12/10, #Virginia regulators will hold the final hearing on the proposed Dominion Energy methane gas plant in #Chesterfield Co. Join us at 4 pm for a rally & for the 5 pm hearing in Chester! #NoNewGasPlants https://appvoices.org/events/dec-10-chesterfield-deq-hearing/
Dec. 10: Chesterfield gas plant final DEQ hearing
We’ve stood strong for more than two and a half years against Dominion Energy’s proposed gas plant in Chesterfield County because it would threaten our clean air and our communities’ health. While the state agency that oversees utilities regrettably approved the project on Dec. 3, Dominion still cannot build this plant without an air permit. …
appvoices.org
December 8, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Lawmakers say that the Trump administration might be skipping a rule requiring self-insured coal companies to cover the cost of their employees' future black lung care.

https://www.lpm.org/news/2025-12-02/democrats-suspect-trump-administration-isnt-enforcing-a-benefits-rule-for-coal-miners
Democrats suspect Trump administration isn’t enforcing a benefits rule for coal miners
Last year, the federal government issued a new rule requiring self-insured coal mines to prove they can cover 100% of future black lung disease costs. Two Democrats say they’ve heard the Trump administration isn’t following the rule.
www.lpm.org
December 7, 2025 at 3:01 PM
With electricity prices rising nationwide, TVA needs real leadership on its board — not political megadonor Lee Beaman, who lacks energy experience and has disturbing allegations about his personal conduct and integrity. Call your senators and tell them to vote NO on Beaman! https://loom.ly/GmBUi-k
Call your senators: Ask them to vote NO on TVA board nominee Lee Beaman!
The Senate will vote soon. Please call your senators today and urge them to vote NO on Lee Beaman’s nomination to the TVA board.
appvoices.org
December 6, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Chrissy Miller is a disaster case manager in Cocke County, TN, who helps survivors of Hurricane #Helene access resources, fulfill unmet needs and try to make sense of difficult situations.
Read more:
Navigating Long-Term Hurricane Helene Recovery: Day-in-the-Life of a Disaster Case Manager in Cocke County, Tennessee
Chrissy Miller is a disaster case manager in Cocke County, Tennessee, who helps survivors of Hurricane Helene access resources, fulfill unmet needs, develop recovery plans and try to make sense of difficult situations. For Miller, who was also impacted by the storm, it’s hard to rein in the scope of her work.
appvoices.org
December 5, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Good news: About $3.6 billion in federal heating assistance from has finally been released to state & tribal governments. Now state agencies need to quickly get the money into people's hands as temperatures drop.

https://loom.ly/JtrKMlc
Long-awaited $3.6B in heating assistance released to states and tribes
The federal government has released about $3.6 billion in delayed funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP.
apnews.com
December 5, 2025 at 8:22 PM
The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act set aside billions to help coal regions create jobs by building clean energy and boosting long-term disaster prevention and recovery. But the Trump administration eliminated those initiatives.

https://loom.ly/dD-8fxI
December 5, 2025 at 3:31 PM
The Biden administration passed a rule to limit how much silica dust miners can be exposed to at work, but now, the Trump administration has indefinitely delayed implementing the rule while it restarts the rule making process.

Read more from @thehill.com:

https://loom.ly/tsXCm78
December 4, 2025 at 4:30 PM
TODAY: Join the Appalachian Flood Resilience Coalition, including @appcitizenslaw.bsky.social, @reimagineappal8ia.bsky.social, Appalachian Voices, and @nationalwildlife.bsky.social, for a public webinar about Appalachian flood policy at 1 p.m. ET.

#FloodMitigation #DisasterResiliency #Appalachia
Appalachian Flood Policy Webinar - ReImagine Appalachia
A New Deal that Works for Us: Now is the time to come together and reimagine a 21st century economy for the Ohio Valley that's good for workers, communities, and the environment.
reimagineappalachia.org
December 4, 2025 at 2:08 PM
#MountainValleyPipeline is pushing ahead with its 31-mile Southgate extension — a project that threatens our waterways, communities & health. Tell #Virginia regulators: Southgate should NOT get approval.
Sign our petition by Friday, 12/5! #NoMVPSouthgate

https://loom.ly/xhtYu8E
Help protect Virginia: Speak up against MVP’s Southgate pipeline
Help protect Virginia: Speak up against MVP’s Southgate pipeline
appvoices.org
December 4, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Yesterday, Rep. Jennifer McClellan joined Reps. Bobby Scott and Valerie Foushee in urging fed regulators to take a hard look at the envirol impacts of the Southeast Supply Enhancement Project and MVP Southgate before allowing them to move forward.
https://loom.ly/O4z6uGo
McClellan Joins Scott, Foushee to Urge Full Review of Proposed Natural Gas Pipelines’ Environmental Impact
Washington, D.C.
mcclellan.house.gov
December 3, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Today, a #Senate committee held a hearing to consider the nomination of Lee Beaman to the #TennesseeValleyAuthority board.

Content warning: The press release at the link references violent statements Beaman's pastor has made toward groups of people.
https://loom.ly/OdJNV5g
After hearing, Appalachian Voices says senators should reject controversial TVA board nominee Beaman
How can any senator take this nomination seriously? The people of the Tennessee Valley deserve better, said Director of Public Power Campaigns Bri Knisley.
appvoices.org
December 3, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Residents of Pittsylvania County, Virginia are concerned about Mountain Valley Pipeline's impacts on their land, including groundwater contamination, explosions and seizure of private property. #NoMVPSouthgate
https://loom.ly/Z40s3JU
Mountain Valley Pipeline Southgate Project faces concerns from residents
The pipeline would extend 31 miles through Pittsylvania County to Rockingham County, North Carolina.
www.wdbj7.com
December 3, 2025 at 12:54 PM
There is still time to give to Appalachian Voices! Our work is possible because of people like YOU. ✨ Thank you for standing with us this year: https://donate.appvoices.org/give/661115/#!/donation/checkout

#GivingTuesday #Nonprofit #Appalachia #Donate
December 3, 2025 at 12:01 AM
“Congressman Cohen and Burchett’s TVA IRP bill will not only make TVA more accountable to its customers and impacted communities, but it will also vastly improve the quality of the resulting plans," said Director of Public Power Campaigns Brianna Knisley. #TVA
https://loom.ly/ARfpHh4
Appalachian Voices applauds introduction of legislation to increase public participation in Tennessee Valley Authority planning process
The TVA Increase Rate of Participation Act proposes changes to increase public participation in the federally owned utility’s integrated resource planning process, while also requiring the utility to take into account certain factors to ensure the plan will result in sustainable, reliable and affordable energy for people in the Tennessee Valley region. 
appvoices.org
December 2, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Thank you to @bobbyscott.house.gov and @repilhan.bsky.social for urging the Department of Labor (DOL) to enforce the Black Lung Self-Insurance Rule, which ensures that coal companies are paying for benefits for miners who get black lung disease. #BlackLung

https://loom.ly/16QMOZE
Labor Leaders Demand Coal Operators Pay Their Fair Share | Education & Workforce Committee Democrats
Education & Workforce Committee Democrats
democrats-edworkforce.house.gov
December 2, 2025 at 7:30 PM
On Dec. 3, Lee Beaman, a controversial Nashville businessman who once owned a chain of car dealerships, will appear before a U.S. Senate committee for a hearing as one of President Trump's nominees to the Tennessee Valley Authority board of directors. @timesfreepress.bsky.social
Senate sets hearing for Trump TVA nominee, donor Lee Beaman | Chattanooga Times Free Press
Lee Beaman, a Nashville businessman who once owned a chain of car dealerships, will appear before a U.S. Senate committee for a hearing as one of President Donald Trump's nominees to the Tennessee Val...
www.timesfreepress.com
December 2, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Giving Tuesday is here! Become a member of Appalachian Voices. Join us in protecting our land, air, water and people — now and for future generations. 💚 Donate: https://donate.appvoices.org/give/661115/#!/donation/checkout

#GivingTuesday #Nonprofit #Appalachia #Donate
December 2, 2025 at 5:04 PM
It’s Giving Tuesday! In this season of giving and thanks, every donation you make to Appalachian Voices helps make life better in the communities of Appalachia. 💚 https://donate.appvoices.org/give/661115/#!/donation/checkout

#GivingTuesday #Nonprofit #Appalachia #Donate
December 2, 2025 at 2:06 PM
“They’re bullies,” says Amy Sexton about Enbridge, a multibillion-dollar Canadian fossil fuel company. “I’ll just — that’s the nicest thing I can call them.” Read Sexton's story and others on The Appalachian Voice! #NoTVAPipelines
https://loom.ly/Wm4LRrQ
Feeling Powerless on Their Own Property 
Many landowners, neighbors and community advocates are dealing with the repercussions of and pushing back against the massive buildout of methane gas — dubbed “natural gas” by the fossil fuel industry — in Tennessee. This huge increase in gas infrastructure is driven in large part by the Tennessee Valley Authority.
appvoices.org
December 2, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Shared 🌞 helps households ⬇️ electric bills, cuts pollution, & lets more people share in the benefits of solar — no rooftop required.

Read more from @AppVoices' Matt Allenbaugh in this op-ed for the @RoanokeTimes. https://loom.ly/xmGLjqI
Shared Solar is a shared solution for our energy and affordability challenges
As someone who grew up in a rural area, in a house my family built, I understand why people choose to live in these incredible places — and also the
roanoke.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:32 PM