Written by Dan Radmacher

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Dan Radmacher

Dan is Appalachian Voice's Media Specialist. Previously, he worked as an opinion journalist for newspapers in Illinois, West Virginia, Florida and Virginia, and then as a communications consultant for a number of environmental nonprofit organizations.

Host of organizations strongly oppose privatization of the Tennessee Valley Authority: Public power belongs to the people

Privatizing TVA would hand over critical public assets, including power plants, transmission lines, dams, parks, lakes, trails and other recreational areas to corporations that serve shareholders, not communities.

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Dominion building in Richmond, Virginia. Photo by Jen Lawhorne

Commission ‘accepts’ Dominion’s long-term plan as ‘legally sufficient’ but will require improvements moving forward

Among other significant problems, Dominion’s plans failed to consider the requirement that the utility’s fossil fuel fleet must retire by 2045 under the law, a requirement that permits only narrow exceptions. 

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xrays of black lung sufferers, Photo by CDC-NIOSH

Lee County passes resolution supporting black lung benefit increases

Last night, Lee County supervisors passed a resolution urging U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith and U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner to support legislation increasing black lung benefits. Kaine and Warner have supported similar legislation, led by former Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey, in past legislative sessions.

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Environment at Risk art exhibition opens July 17 in Glen Allen, Va. 

On Thursday, July 17, Appalachian Voices will host a new art exhibition “Environment at Risk” at the Gumenick Family Gallery of The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen in Henrico County, Virginia.

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Funding must continue for Appalachian Regional Commission, urge government leaders and community groups

This week, more than 80 state and local government officials, educational institutions, businesses, churches and nonprofits sent a letter to members of Congress calling for sustained funding for the Appalachian Regional Commission.

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CPAN screenshot of One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”

Appalachian Voices statement on Senate passage of H.R.1, slashing clean energy in favor of billionaire and polluter tax breaks

Today, the U.S. Senate passed the reconciliation bill, H.R. 1, officially known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” The bill will hinder new energy production and lead to an increase in electricity prices for the entire country by repealing energy efficiency and renewable energy tax credits, while creating a new tax credit for metallurgical coal production.

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Clinchco community meeting on energy resilience

This July, the town of Clinchco and Appalachian Voices are hosting a community meeting to inform energy backup planning in the area. The community meeting will be open to the public and will take place on July 15 at 5:30 p.m. at the Clinchco Senior Citizens Center.

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Nonprofits, Tribes and local governments sue Trump administration for terminating EPA grant programs

Today, a coalition of nonprofits, Tribes and local governments sued the Trump administration for unlawfully terminating the Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grant Program despite a congressional directive to fund it.

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Southwest Virginia counties pass resolutions supporting black lung benefit increases

Russell County will consider a similar resolution next…

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Speakers from West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, West Virginia Citizen Action Group, and Appalachian Voices poise with flag outside of Senator Jim Justice's office at a press conference. Photo by Dan Radmacher.

Groups urge Sens. Capito, Justice to protect West Virginians, vote against harmful cuts to health programs and energy tax credits

Multiple groups held a press conference calling on Sens. Jim Justice, (R-W.Va.) and Shelley Moore Capito to stand up and protect their constituents over out-of-state billionaires. 

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