Appalachian Voices

“Rescinding the black lung self insurance rule will let coal CEOs go back to dodging their legal and moral duties to provide a safety net for the people who get sick working in their mines,” said Quenton King, Government Affairs Specialist at Appalachian Voices. “Congress needs to get serious about preventing black lung disease, improving benefits for miners with the disease, and ensuring the solvency of the trust fund instead of bending over backwards for the companies that have caused the black lung epidemic," said Rebecca Shelton, Director of Policy at Appalachian Citizens Law Ctr. #BlackLungKills ??: Members of the Black Lung Association attend a congressional hearing in 2019. Photo by Earl Dotter

Are you concerned about the increasing risks our communities face from climate change and corporate polluters? Join Appalachian Voices and our partners for a virtual comment party on April 1 at 6:30 p.m. to learn more about a large methane gas project proposed in Virginia and North Carolina and how you can voice your concerns to help protect our communities.

Tell Congress: Protect our air and water from polluting industries and billionaires! Right now, industries and billionaires that bought access to the administration are working to dismantle the Environmental Protection Agency, firing hundreds of employees, closing offices and rolling back more than 30 health and safety protections. In Appalachia, where communities are dealing with the negative impacts of numerous polluting industries such as coal, gas and logging, the EPA has played a crucial role in cleaning up the damage and protecting people from more harm. Contact your members of Congress and demand congressional oversight of the agency that protects our air and water!

Tell your North Carolina House representative to vote NO on SB 261!

The Virginia General Assembly adjourned after a short, 45-day session last month. During that short time, we saw some incredibly engaged activists who sent over 1,400 letters to legislators and made dozens of calls to offices during call-in events. In a new blog, Virginia Campaign Coordinator Matt Allenbaugh writes about our work defending the Virginia Clean Economy Act, rate relief for Appalachian Power customers and other highlights from this year’s General Assembly. We’ll share more updates on the bills we’ve worked on after the governor’s veto session wraps up on April 2 and we know which bills are becoming law!

Founded in 2009, SEEED Knox, which stands for Socially Equal Energy Efficient Development, is a nonprofit operating in East Knoxville, Tennessee. The organization’s mission is to provide “pathways out of poverty for young adults through career readiness training, environmental education and community engagement.” In February, Abby Hassler of Appalachian Voices spoke with SEEED’s Executive Director and Founder Stan Johnson and Chief Operating Officer JD Jackson. “It’s all about the young people,” said Jackson. “They’re our future, and they need a voice. They need somebody to advocate for them. More importantly, they need somebody to meet them where they’re at. You know, if you’ve got a bucket and it’s full of holes, before you pour something into it, you’ve got to patch up the holes.” Read the Q&A on The Appalachian Voice!

Appalachian Voices staff is deeply saddened by the passing of U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva. Throughout his more than 20 years of congressional service, the Arizona representative was committed to not only the communities in his district, but disadvantaged communities across the country, including Appalachians and coal mining communities. “He will be remembered by the people in Central Appalachia for his warmth and kindness, his dedication to empowering people to advocate for themselves, and his commitment to righting historical wrongs," said Chelsea Barnes, Director of Government Affairs and Strategy at Appalachian Voices. "Though he is not from Appalachia, he will always be an Appalachian hero in our hearts.” ??: Stanley Sturgill of Kentuckians for the Commonwealth and Rep. Grijalva view the Looney Ridge Mine.

Over 12,500 members of the public weighed in during the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s short 21-day intervention period regarding the Mountain Valley Pipeline’s proposed Southgate pipeline project. The vast majority of commenters, more than 80%, asked FERC to deny MVP Southgate’s request. Appalachian Voices submitted a petition alongside key partners, including the Sierra Club, the Chesapeake Climate Action Network and West Virginia Rivers Coalition. The Protect Our Water, Heritage Rights (POWHR) Coalition led an organizational sign-on letter with 73 organizations. In addition, 19 Virginia legislators voiced opposition to the amendment. ??: Rally and protest against Manchin Dirty Deal for MVP pipeline in Washington, DC. Photo courtesy of Jen Lawhorne / Appalachian Voices.

?? A Brighter Future Unveiled in Tazewell! ?? Yesterday, Tuesday, March 11th, the Tazewell community came together for a powerful #celebration at the Four Seasons YMCA! ?? The Solar Ribbon Cutting & Community Event marked a major step toward #sustainability as we officially launched solar power at the YMCA, reinforcing a commitment to a greener future. Event Highlights: ? Ribbon Cutting Ceremony – Local leaders and partners joined to inaugurate the new #solar energy system. ?? ? Community Engagement – Attendees explored the Growing Together Community Garden, learning about clean energy and sustainability. ???? ? Family-Friendly Fun – Children and families enjoyed connection, celebration, and #education. ???????? ?? This event was a testament to the power of collaboration, bringing together Secure Solar Futures, the Solar Workgroup of SWVA, the Four Seasons YMCA, and the local community to embrace clean, renewable energy for a more sustainable tomorrow. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3FrGYjs ?? Secure Solar Futures https://bit.ly/4iLp0GZ ?? Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia https://bit.ly/3FjBVl1 ?? Four Seasons YMCA https://bit.ly/3R2KIdE ?? Appalachian Voices https://bit.ly/43KMuYz ? Together, we’re making strides toward a cleaner, brighter future for Tazewell and beyond! ??? #SolarEnergy #GreenFuture #RenewableEnergy #CleanPower

We're gearing up for our next round of Community Strong listening sessions in Southwest Virginia. If you're in the area, please join us! https://lnkd.in/eex-eUNt