Action Alerts
The West Virginia Highlands Conservancy encourages you to stay informed and engaged with your elected officials. You can find contact information for U.S. Senators, U.S. Representatives, and the West Virginia Legislature here. Reaching out—by phone, email, or mail—is a great way to advocate for the preservation and protection of West Virginia’s natural resources. We will update this page with new actions as they are needed.
Not sure who your representatives are? Click here to find your individual state legislators from your address or location.
6/13/2025 Three million acres of public lands are on the line—speak up now!
On June 11, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee introduced draft legislation that would force the sale of three million acres of public lands across 11 western states. These are lands we all cherish—places to hunt, fish, hike, and find peace in the outdoors. The proposal prioritizes development over conservation and cuts out public input entirely.
Even though West Virginia isn’t listed (yet), this sets a dangerous precedent. If Congress can sell off public lands to balance the budget in other states, it could happen here too.
As West Virginians, we know what public lands mean to our families, our freedom, and our future. That’s why we’re standing up—not just for our state, but for public lands everywhere.
SEND AN EMAIL:
- Action Alert: Tell lawmakers: our public lands are not for sale!
4/22/2025 A data center blitz is coming—here’s how we push back
On the very last day of the legislative session, the West Virginia Legislature passed HB 2014—a bill that strips away local authority and fast-tracks the development of massive “microgrid” power plants and data centers across the state. The bill gives counties and towns zero say over where these facilities go or how they’re built.
Around the same time this bill was introduced, the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy discovered a heavily redacted air permit application for a large natural gas-fired power plant just outside of Thomas—likely tied to a data center. Local leaders had no idea it was coming. Similar facilities have already been proposed in Logan and Mingo Counties.
At a packed town hall meeting in Davis, Conservancy Board Member Tyler Cannon put it plainly: “Now that we have this bill passed, it’s clear that there’s going to be a blitz.” The next day, local residents formed a new grassroots group—Tucker United—which has launched a petition urging the Governor to veto the bill.
The risks to our air, water, tourism economy, and way of life are real. We’re not opposed to progress—but we are opposed to secrecy, bad policy, and being shut out of decisions that deeply affect our communities. Join us: sign the petition and submit a comment on the air permit today. Tell the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection: We will not accept this lack of transparency and missing information.
The way the DEP handles this permit will set a precedent for how future facilities are proposed and reviewed—making it more important than ever to speak up, demand transparency, and push back against rushed, high-risk development.
The deadline to submit comments is this Friday, April 25. Please note: comments must be submitted in writing—phone calls will not be accepted.
You can customize the letter by adding your personal connection to the Highlands, your concerns about the project, or why local input matters to you—every message makes a difference.
SEND AN EMAIL:
2/16/2025 Protect Our Public Lands—Act Now to Stop Harmful Layoffs
CALL SCRIPT, FIND YOUR REPRESENTATIVES NUMBER HERE:
Hi, my name is [Your Name] and I’m calling from [Your City], [Your State]. I’m calling because I am deeply concerned over the federal layoffs that have cost thousands of jobs at the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service. These aren’t just numbers. They are our neighbors, friends, and family members who take pride in caring for our forests and parks.
Our state relies on our public lands for clean air, clean water, and recreational opportunities that support local economies. The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve alone generated over $96 million in tourism revenue last year, supporting more than a thousand local jobs. With peak wildfire and recreation seasons approaching, cutting staff now puts our communities and the safety of our lands at serious risk.
I’m asking you to step in and stop these layoffs. We need to reinvest in our forests and parks and protect the people who have worked hard to be good stewards of our public lands. Thank you for your time and for listening to our concerns.
SEND AN EMAIL:
- Action Alert from the Outdoor Alliance: Ask Lawmakers to Reverse Staffing Cuts at Land Management Agencies