The Advocate -- Latest Issue

The Advocate — Latest Issue

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February 21, 2026

Our air and water are under attack

Proposed changes to environmental permitting would weaken laws that helped drastically reduce air and water pollution. Read the details and then take several actions to help protect our water and air!

Aerial of mountaintop removal mine owned by A&G coal company

Broke or flush? A&G can’t decide

A coal company owned by U.S. Sen. Jim Justice has given conflicting statements about its financial status and its ability to pay to restore land it has mined.

Home on the range

An Indigenous-led organization is seeking to reintroduce bison on a reclaimed mountaintop removal coal mine in Eastern Kentucky that is also a proposed construction site for a federal prison.

Strong environmental laws protect us all

Nobody understands a community better than the people who live there. Tell Congress not to shut local voices out of government decisions about what gets built and where!

Appalachian Solar Finance Fund Impact Report

The Appalachian Solar Finance Fund’s financing tools are helping community-serving institutions lower operating costs, build sustainable energy systems and keep more wealth circulating locally.

Turmoil at the TVA

After months of turmoil on its board of directors, the Tennessee Valley Authority’s newly sworn-in board voted to keep operating old and expensive coal plants that were slated for retirement. The board also voted to eliminate goals around renewable energy and diversity, equity and inclusion, and approve additional power for contested data centers in Memphis.

TVA keeps expensive, dangerous coal plants in operation

What's next for TVA?

Stop Lee Beaman from joining the TVA board

In Case You Missed It...

Read about Bob Egbert: A Virginian’s story of service and environmental advocacy
Eyes on West Virginia’s Cherry River area: We’re monitoring to make sure South Fork Coal Company’s mines are cleaned up.
Fighting Dominion Energy’s Chesterfield power plant: We and our partners are appealing the proposed methane gas power plant’s air permit.
SSEP methane gas project updates: The city council of Lexington, N.C., passed a resolution against Transco’s proposed SSEP the same week that federal regulators granted a certificate for the dangerous project.

Our work depends on you--become a member today!

CALENDAR

Environmental Day (E-Day) and Black Policy Day

Feb. 23-24: Our team will be tabling at the West Virginia State Capitol. Stop by, say hello and bring some friends! Charleston, W.Va.

Avery Winter Warm-Up Resource Fair

Feb. 24: We’ll be tabling at this event that is focused on refreshing, rebuilding and re-energizing our communities in 2026. Newland, N.C.

Davidson County Community Meeting on SSEP Pipeline

Feb. 26: Join us and Clean Water for North Carolina to discuss next steps for community pipeline monitoring and actions you can take. Lexington, N.C.

WNC Resilience Hub Network Summit

Feb. 27 at 8:30 a.m.: Join us and our partners to discuss how to better support our communities. Asheville, N.C.

5th Annual Boone Docs Film Festival

Feb. 27-28: This two-day event includes “A Beast Touch the Mountain,” a documentary about the fight against the Mountain Valley Pipeline, complete with a Q&A with the film’s director. Boone, N.C.

Quarry Drive Mineland ReLeaf Community Input Session

March 6 at 6 p.m.: We want your feedback on our former mineland reforestation project! Clinchco, Va.

Communities Over Corporate Profit: How We Win

March 8 at noon: Join us and our partners to learn, get inspired and then go into your community and mobilize! Durham, N.C.

49th Annual Appalachian Studies Association Conference

March 19-21: Register soon! This year’s theme is “Power of a Place, Power of Its People.” Huntington, W.Va.

Banff Mountain Film Festival

March 19-21: With hundreds of stops across the globe, including Boone, this festival celebrates amazing achievements in outdoor storytelling and filmmaking worldwide. Boone, N.C.

37th Annual Ijams River Rescue

March 21: Get out and clean up local waterways in Knox, Anderson, Blount and Loudon counties. Volunteers will get a free t-shirt! Multiple locations, Tennessee.

2026 Livability in Action Regional Exchange

March 25: At this free event, speakers will touch on topics like hurricane relief and recovery, housing, downtown revitalization, community-university partnerships and more. Blacksburg, Va.

Offices in:

Boone, NC • Charlottesville, VA

Knoxville, TN • Norton, VA

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