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Make Some Noise: Demand Transparency and Accountability for Data Centers
by League of Women Voters of West Virginia 08 Dec '25

08 Dec '25

[image: lwv msn logo.png] The West Virginia Department of Commerce has released its proposed rules <https://apps.sos.wv.gov/adlaw/csr/readfile.aspx?DocId=58708&Format=PDF> for implementing HB 2014 <https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2025_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb2014%…>, which established the Certified Microgrid Development Program. HB 2014 encourages data centers to locate in WV and allows them to generate their own power through the creation of microgrids. HB 2014 allows microgrids to utilize fossil fuels rather than renewable sources, overrides local control, and prevents counties and municipalities from enforcing or enacting restrictive measures related to siting or operation, giving most review powers to the Secretary of Commerce. The West Virginia Highlands Conservancy <https://secure.everyaction.com/7z2qteyDC0Cx3o6W3LtgCA2> described the proposed rule like this: As written, these rules give the public almost no notice, no real way to weigh in, and very little information about what these companies are proposing. For projects that could change local air and water quality, drive up energy demand, and reshape rural communities, that's simply not good enough. This is your opportunity to tell the Secretary of Commerce they must amend the rules to require more transparency from big data centers and create opportunities for public input on applications. Hurry! The comment deadline is Wednesday, December 10th. Use the template and talking points below (adapted from WV Highlands Conservancy suggestions) to prepare your comments. Comments should be submitted to Garner Marks, General Counsel for the WV Department of Commerce at garner.marks(a)wv.gov. ------------------------------ Letter Template and Talking Points To: garner.marks(a)wv.gov Subject: Public Comment on Proposed Rule 145CSR20 (Certified Microgrid Development Program) Body: Dear Mr. Marks, I am a West Virginia resident concerned about how HB 2014 hands over almost all decision-making about data centers and microgrids to the state, taking away authority from communities that will have to live with the consequences. As written, these rules will remove the public from the process, deny them access to what is being proposed, their ability to make their voices heard, or protect their communities from negative consequences. - The rules need transparency with a structured, open, public process. Before final approval, residents deserve notice, and the ability to appeal decisions that affect their communities. - Applications should be made public so residents can see the basic facts about what’s being proposed. - These processes need clear standards and independent evaluations, so decisions are made based on transparent and consistent criteria. - Before approval of any application, the rules should require an independent review for environmental impact by specialists, including qualified engineers and economists. - Applicants should be required to disclose all basic environmental and community impacts. The state is the only reviewer, as local governments are blocked from regulating these facilities. That makes it even more important for full disclosure about essential features — expected air emissions, water use, sources of water, and discharges, noise levels, traffic impacts, the operating schedule and workforce, emergency-service needs, safety policies and records, land-use conflicts. - Applicants should be required to assess and disclose whether renewables and battery storage are feasible for some or all anticipated power needs. - Companies seeking waivers from local rules should be required to offer binding community benefit agreements negotiated directly with the community. - To protect everyday West Virginians from higher electric bills, data centers should cover the full cost of their electricity use and any grid updates they require. HB 2014 already limits local authority. The least the state can do is ensure that residents have transparency, a voice in the process, and real protections. I strongly urge you to revise the rules to reflect these needs. Sincerely, [Your Name] [Your County/City]

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Board Meeting REMINDER -- DEC 13, 2025, 10:00 a.m.
by League of Women Voters of West Virginia 07 Dec '25

07 Dec '25

DRAFT Agenda, Dec 13, 2025 Agenda (Google drive) <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XMkRvuwmrHz2HilUuAVmzOxHyLeb3-aGbnvGPfp…> LWVWV BOARD AGENDA - DEC 13, 2025 REVISED – 12/6/2025 ZOOM Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81479925997?pwd=daonMB9dEtNeYHK7BMXZ4saxJsljHo.1 Meeting ID: 814 7992 5997 Passcode: 951848 --- One tap mobile +16469313860,,81479925997#,,,,*951848# US +13017158592,,81479925997#,,,,*951848# US (Washington DC) 10:00 AM Welcome & Call to Order, Changes/Additions to Agenda Lyn Widmyer Approval of minutes - <-- INSERT LINK Co-Presidents’ Reports - Signed on to LWVUS statement regarding DHS plan to consolidate sensitive personal data across federal agencies - Death of Nancy Novak, former president of LWVWV, longtime member of the Board, & lifetime member of the League Lyn Widmyer Judy Ball Treasurer’s Report - Treasurer’s Report <-- INSERT LINK - Ron Widmyer volunteered to serve on audit committee for LWVWV. - Still need League members to serve on the board of LWV Trust. - LWVWV rejected offer for Lobby Corps Grant from LWVUS. - Approval needed to transfer up to $4000 from CD that is maturing soon to cover budget items. Teresa Lyn/Judy 10:20 a.m. New Business Preparing for 2026 election season - VOTE411 - Voter education on new photo ID law - Any local Leagues planning candidate forums? - Approval needed for funds to support outreach to voters & legislators (partnership with Delta Sigma Theta) Autumn Lyn Judy Other Board members Legislative Day - Approval needed for contribution to Delta Sigma Theta toward their cost of Black Policy Day at Legislature in February. - We will join them & have a table with LWV info. Lyn LLAW — Preparing for Jan 2026 Legislature - Activated FastDemocracy Pro subscription (with Teresa’s help). Training just for LLAW scheduled for Dec 19. - No suggested changes to 2024 Legislative Priorities <https://lwvwv.org/2024/01/04/lwvwv-2024-program-policy-priorities/> were received, so priorities will remain the same. - Completed testing Claude AI platform for help with the heavy lifting in manual bill review. Full test across 2460 bills from 2025. - Claude is excellent at translating bills into LWVWV positions. - Claude improved immensely in filtering bills based on keywords into 4 priority buckets. - Claude resource constraints issue will be addressed by using a portion of LLAW budget to fund Claude Pro subscription only for duration of Legislature’s term. - Request to brief Morgantown NOW on LLAW, Jan 13. - Del. Evan Hansen will introduce nonpartisan bills supported by LLAW. We set the following priorities: - Current WV law permits voters who request assistance due a disability to have that disability challenged. These provisions should be repealed. (Talking points <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1E4iOf3d7VxBHMu_2svMiOQluAbIp78Tw/view?usp=…> on this policy issue.) - Bill to codify procedures for redistricting in WV, HB 2415 <https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_history.cfm?INPUT=2415&year…> in 2025, will be re-introduced. - Our bill to modernize election procedures, HB 2447 <https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_history.cfm?INPUT=2447&year…> in 2025, will not be re-introduced this session. We may come back in a future session. Judy Establish meeting schedule for CY 2026 - Move that the Board meet the third Saturday, every other month - Jan 22 - Mar 15 - May 17 - Jul 19 - Sep 20 - Nov 15 Lyn Judy Highlights of LWVUS Leader meetings - LWVUS has a new regional organizing model. https://www.lwv.org/league-management/advocacy-litigation/lwvs-organizing-m… - Each state assigned to a region with a coordinator. - Region 2: West Virginia & District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia. - Still early days, but notable frustration at LWVUS lack of support for fostering communication between & among state leaders. Lyn Judy 11:20 a.m. Unfinished Business - Amicus brief filed with WV Supreme Court of Appeals to support WV Board of Education challenge to WV state legislature having final authority over rules & regulations. - Judy interviewed on MetroNews TV — ScreenRecording_11-03-2025 10-46-23_1.mp4 <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PDj26vuhvImCYnkmWaI6tB3jprXwehSA/view?usp=…> - Brief was topic of LWVMM Substack — The will of the people must be respected — Nov 30, 2025 Lyn Judy - Continuing partnership with Delta Sigma Theta (EPAC) to promote importance of voting. - Priority: voter turnout - Postcards to be mailed - LWVWV will co-sponsor webinar Lyn Judy - Vacancies on state Board still unfilled; Huntington not represented Lyn Local League Reports ✦ Huntington Area ✦ Jefferson County - Annual membership meeting, Dec 9 - Death of Alice Barkus, longtime LWV member Lyn ✦ Morgantown-Monongalia County - Substack update. 119 subscribers as of Dec 6. LWVMorgantown.substack.com <http://lwvmorgantown.substack.com> - Updated flyers for voter events — for any local League to use: - Voter Registration Event <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OwTjMSwqMzfpCjrfd6QDMtJVaDYBubT3/view?usp=…> - Student Voters <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YNm5AIb7YO0v6j2UFVgYoCw79BBvv1el/view?usp=…> - Photo ID <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cKmq_9tlPiKhXZzbY8925AHHcnJIu1Ge/view?usp=…> - Absentee Ballots <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WufQuWrOveVSKQt_YvO5fr2Oi-uBlZ1G/view?usp=…> - T-shirts! Ordering deadline is Dec 31. - Instructions → 2025-12-05 email T-shirt order.pdf <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wHuMoNJjYDfDY3MzU68Q_FEFZbbZjexl/view?usp=…> - Order form with images → voters shirts.docx <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OSikYPj2-1ATsWTMQCVbOLEotMgDG3Mc/edit?u…> Judy For the good of the order Noon ADJOURN Next Meetings/Events:

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New LWV-MM Substack -- Read & Subscribe
by League of Women Voters of West Virginia 30 Nov '25

30 Nov '25

Check out our new monthly post! No means no. In this case, it is our Legislature that is failing to understand that. https://lwvmorgantown.substack.com/p/the-will-of-wva-voters-must-be-respect… [image: DP 2025-11-30.jpg]

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Participate in Voting PSA Video Campaign - Nov 17 deadline
by League of Women Voters of West Virginia 13 Nov '25

13 Nov '25

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Eastern Panhandle Alumnae Chapter and the League of Women Voters of West Virginia are working together to bring the "Voting is Personal" PSA Video Campaign to life. We need your help to make it happen. When finished, the PSA will be a 1 to 1.5 minute video made from recordings captured around our state that feature individuals or groups expressing what makes their vote personal. We will share the final video on social media platforms, with non-partisan groups, and our lawmakers. The final video will require statewide participation from Deltas and League members, our friends and family. We will be recording *SHORT* statements about what "issues" make your vote personal. Examples include: - I/We vote to protect reproductive rights. - I/We vote to keep medication costs low. - I/We vote to eliminate food deserts. - I/We vote to protect SNAP benefits. - I/We vote to protect Social Security. - I/We vote because climate change is real. For participants, think about your community and who should be represented. Please, include all ages, all demographics, and do not concern yourself with party affiliation - *This Is a Non-Partisan Campaign*. We want this video to be representative of all people living in the Mountain State. *Instructions for Recordings.* *Poorly recorded videos cannot be used*. 1. If using your cell phone, *Clean* the camera and the screen before recording. 2. Record in *Landscape* mode, NOT portrait mode. 3. Ensure plenty of *Light* and no shadows on faces. 4. If possible, record *Outside* during the day, but make sure the sun is not behind the subject. 5. Remember *Presentation* - Smile, Be upbeat, Be engaging. 6. *Hit RECORD, Pause Pause, MAKE SHORT STATEMENT, Pause Pause, Hit END*. The pauses give us the ability to edit the recordings together. Your recording must be submitted via email to Blushred91(a)gmail.com or by text to *304-886-4900* by *November 17, 2025, no later than by 5pm.*

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New LWV-MM Substack -- Read & Subscribe
by League of Women Voters of West Virginia 13 Nov '25

13 Nov '25

Check out our new submitted post! https://lwvmorgantown.substack.com/p/time-to-end-governing-by-scapegoat [image: image.png]

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LWVWV Amicus Brief filed
by League of Women Voters of West Virginia 04 Nov '25

04 Nov '25

LWVWV Members, Here is a Nov 3 interview with co-President Judy Ball about the LWVWV's amicus brief supporting the Board of Education's challenge to HB 2755. Passed in 2025, HB 2755 represents the Legislature trying to take over educational policy, despite the people's vote against a similar constitutional amendment in 2022. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PDj26vuhvImCYnkmWaI6tB3jprXwehSA/view?usp=…

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LWVWV files legal brief opposing state legislature taking over educational policy
by Lyn Widmyer 31 Oct '25

31 Oct '25

The attached press release summarizes the amicus (friend of the court) brief we have filed to support the WV Board of Education's legal challenge regarding the state legislature's action to transfer policy making from the WV Board of Education to elected officials. As noted in the press release, the state legislature is overriding the will of the people and posing an unacceptable assault on the democratic process. Many thanks to Michael W. Taylor of the Pence Law Firm for providing his legal services free of charge to the League. -

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New LWV-MM Substack -- Read & Subscribe
by League of Women Voters of West Virginia 26 Oct '25

26 Oct '25

Check out our new post! Do you know that our Legislature changed voter ID requirements this year? Be aware, prepare now for 2026 elections, West Virginia. https://lwvmorgantown.substack.com/p/with-voter-id-requirements-changes [image: image.png]

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Fw: Newsletter
by bmurrell＠frontier.com 24 Oct '25

24 Oct '25

Subject: Newsletter League Presidents and Friends: Attached is the October newsletter from the Huntington League of Women Voters. Enjoy!

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Board Meeting REMINDER -- OCT 18, 2025, 10:00 a.m.
by League of Women Voters of West Virginia 10 Oct '25

10 Oct '25

Updated Agenda, Oct 10, 2025 Agenda (Google drive) <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CoUqwGXWQNjRraOQOsv5k817F09n6X4TQlmd-JC…> LWVWV BOARD AGENDA - OCT 18, 2025 REVISED – 10/9/2025, 10/10/2025 ZOOM Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86521504967?pwd=hnUg9NBJa2ZI7MfrKZaNFPaxr0OhZ7.1 Meeting ID: 865 2150 4967 Passcode: 760810 One tap mobile +13052241968,,86521504967#,,,,*760810# US +13092053325,,86521504967#,,,,*760810# US 👑 No Kings Protest is scheduled today at multiple sites. We will wrap up in plenty of time for Board members to participate. 10:00 AM Welcome & Call to Order, Changes/Additions to Agenda Lyn Widmyer Approval of minutes - Aug 9, 2025 Co-Presidents’ Reports - Co-sponsored & attended Get Out the Vote event with WV Future - Posted interview with Judy: 5 Takeaways from 2025 WV Legislative Session <https://youtu.be/zGi8bF1d71Y?si=40B5Q3DXOaX13XgR> - Voter registration by nonpartisan groups restricted by USCIS - U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a policy change, Aug 2025, that bars nonpartisan, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from registering newly naturalized citizens to vote at administrative naturalization ceremonies. - LWVUS advises that restriction does not apply to those ceremonies occurring outside USCIS facilities. Lyn Widmyer Judy Ball Treasurer’s Report - Treasurer’s Report - Updates: - Volunteers to audit financials from 2023-2024 - League members to serve on the board of LWV Trust. - LWVUS is offering us a Lobby Corps Grant. They are interested in supporting LLAW efforts in “Appalachia.” The grant could be useful in defraying costs of FastDemocracy and Claude.AI Pro subscriptions. Teresa Lyn/Judy 10:20 a.m. New Business - Board approved LWVWV filing of amicus brief supporting WV Board of Education challenge to WV state legislature having final authority over rules & regulations. Lyn Judy - Approval of letter to Election Assistance Commission (EAC) opposing documentary proof of citizenship (DPOC) for voter registration. Judy - Approve sending letter echoing our support for Climate Alliance letter to EPA. - They asked us to sign their letter, but they missed our email to be signatories. - Should we send separate email to endorse their position? Lyn - Preparing for 2026 election season - Partisan primaries & nonpartisan elections in May, including WV Supreme Court (2 seats) - May Primary will be first election after passage of HB 3016, requiring photo ID to vote. Autumn - Partnering with Delta Sigma Theta (EPAC) to promote importance of voting. - Priority: voter turnout - Postcards to be mailed - LWVWV will co-sponsor webinar Lyn Judy - LLAW -- Getting ready for Jan 2026 Legislature - Legislative Priorities <https://lwvwv.org/2024/01/04/lwvwv-2024-program-policy-priorities/> have not been modified since 2024. Should they be modified for 2026? - Testing Claude AI platform for potential help with some of the heavy lifting in manual bill review. - Claude is excellent at translating bills into LWVWV positions. - Claude is less excellent at filtering bills into 4 priority buckets. Resource constraints. - Reserve a table at the Legislature for the 2026 session? Legislature convenes Jan 12, 2026. Available dates to choose from: - 2/13 Lower Rotunda - 2/25 Lower Rotunda - 2/27 Lower Rotunda - 3/5 Lower Rotunda - 3/11 Lower Rotunda - 3/14 Upper House & Senate Rotunda Judy - Highlights of LWVUS Leaders’ meetings - Check your emails for summary of info highlighted in each month’s leaders’ meeting. - Subscribe to biweekly LWVUS newsletter <https://www.lwv.org/league-management/league-update-newsletter-sign>, if you don’t already get it. Judy 11:20 a.m. Unfinished Business - Fill vacancies on state Board Lyn Local League Reports - Huntington Area - Jefferson County - Will be joining Delta Sigma Theta to register new citizens at naturalization ceremony in Oct. - Registered voters at African-American Cultural Heritage event (attracted folks with voting jars asking for their favorite social media site) - Marched in Constitution Day Parade in Shepherdstown Lyn - Morgantown-Monongalia County - Four successful community conversations, co-sponsored with Mountain State Spotlight, in Morgantown & Preston Counties. - From Morgantown to Kingwood, residents want more housing, health care and internet <https://mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/08/17/preston-monogalia-listening-s…> (MSS, Tre Spencer and Kathambari Ramkumar, Aug 17) - Substack update. 109 subscribers as of Oct 09. LWVMorgantown.substack.com <http://lwvmorgantown.substack.com> - No Kings protest in Morgantown, Oct 18. - LWVMM will have a table with free paperclips <https://substack.com/home/post/p-175289144> for everyone! - Several LWVMM members are marching with LWV banner. - WVU has expressed concern that paperclip project is “too partisan.” We are pushing back -- preserving democracy is not partisan. - Two sessions at Morgantown Public Library for National Voter Registration Day. Photos: - IMG_20250917_142032.jpg <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UJc4Qna5npbOJtycMWTYgEQSF9dqxiJy/view?usp=…> - IMG_20250917_142040.jpg <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JgqmTnyRBAWoO3PTGny9v_v7ZaUmJN1Z/view?usp=…> - Updated flyers for voter events: - Voter Registration Event <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OwTjMSwqMzfpCjrfd6QDMtJVaDYBubT3/view?usp=…> - Student Voters <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YNm5AIb7YO0v6j2UFVgYoCw79BBvv1el/view?usp=…> - Photo ID <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cKmq_9tlPiKhXZzbY8925AHHcnJIu1Ge/view?usp=…> - Absentee Ballots <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WufQuWrOveVSKQt_YvO5fr2Oi-uBlZ1G/view?usp=…> Judy For the good of the order Noon ADJOURN Next Meetings/Events:

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