Writing in Blue Virginia on November 14, 2017, Josh Stanfield gave suggested actions to oppose Dominion’s stranglehold on Virginia politics:

(1) If you want to keep Dominion money out of the inaugural committees, perhaps because you understand for-profit entities don’t give money without some expectation of return, send your concerns to:

Clark Mercer, Chief of Staff, LG Ralph Northam: Clark.Mercer@ltgov.virginia.gov, 804.786.2078.

(2) Contact Governor McAuliffe and appeal to his presidential ambitions (because appeals to principle, the environment, property rights, public health, and consumer protection have been insufficient):

Paul Reagan, Chief of Staff, Gov. Terry McAuliffe: paul.reagan@governor.virginia.gov, 804.786.2211

(3) Contact Tom Perriello and urge him to use his platform to combat the proposed pipelines. Though Tom deserves a respite after months of campaigning for our amazing House of Delegates candidates, now is the time for him to rejoin the fight.

(4) Contact your representatives in the House of Delegates and State Senate. Implore them to support both a ban on contributions from public service corporations and a repeal of the 2015 “rate freeze” bill.

(5) Contact your local party officials, candidates who fell short in the November 2017 election, and advocacy groups. Implore them to push these actions.

(6) Thank the 13 Delegates-elect who pledged never to accept contributions from Dominion Energy or Appalachian Power. Remind them of the importance of supporting a ban on contributions and a repeal of the 2015 “rate freeze” bill.

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There are many other things you can do to help stop the pipeline!

1.  SIGN AND SHARE PETITIONS.  There are no currently active petitions.  To see an archives list of past petitions, click here.

2.  PARTICIPATE IN FRIENDS OF NELSON’S LETTER-WRITING CAMPAIGNS by downloading and mailing our ready-made letters.  These letters make it easy to write to your representatives and other organizations about timely issues regarding the Atlantic Coast Pipeline.  Click here to view a list of current and past letter-writing campaigns and download your ready-to-mail letters.  Letters are available in PDF (just print, sign, and mail!) and Word file formats.  Letters to write NOW are described in these stories:

• Tell the Marine Resources Commission:  No Pipeline!
• Protect Stone Walls Among the Blue Ridge

3. REFUSE PERMISSION FOR SURVEYING. If you are a landowner, please visit our Surveying and Access page for specific information about how to refuse surveying on your property, how to protect your property rights, and how to get in touch with Friends of Nelson about these important issues.

4. VOLUNTEER.  Friends of Nelson always needs volunteers for its many activities, events, and outreach programs!  To learn more about our volunteers and the ways in which you can help by becoming a volunteer, please visit our Volunteer page.  If you would like to volunteer, please send an email to friendsofnelson@gmail.com.

5. SUBMIT COMMENTS AND WRITE PERSONAL LETTERS.  You can fight the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and make your voice heard by writing letters to your elected representatives and your local newspaper.  Click here for information on how to write personal letters that will make a difference in the fight to oppose the ACP.

6.  JOIN THE WEEKLY PROTESTS AT DOMINION’S CHARLOTTESVILLE OFFICE.  Take part in weekly protests by the Dominion office in Charlottesville, across from Whole Foods, on the first, second, third, and fourth Wednesday of each month, from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. Park in the Kroger parking lot. Friends of Nelson sponsors the first and third Wednesdays, Knitting Nannas of Virginia sponsors the second and fourth.  Carry signs, wear No Pipeline tees, and make new friends while you walk up and down the sidewalk (or knit!) by the Dominion office to demonstrate to both Dominion employees and passing cars that we want clean energy and NO PIPELINE!  For more information about these Wednesday protests (including exact dates, the address of Dominion’s Charlottesville office, and a link to a Google map of the location), please visit our Events page and view our regular calendar listings for these local protests.

7. SPREAD THE WORD.  On social media, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.  Talk with friends, neighbors and family. The Friends of Nelson Fact Sheet would be a good thing to print and give to people or to post on bulletin boards

8.  SIGNS AND BUMPER STICKERS.  Put up a sign, display a bumper sticker, wear a t-shirt.   Signs, stickers, and shirts are available for sale at Friends of Nelson’s table at the Nelson County farmer’s market, at Friends of Nelson’s public meetings, and at other Friends of Nelson events.  You can also order NO PIPELINE signs, bumper stickers, and t-shirts from Doug Wellman by emailing him (wellman.doug@gmail.com).

9. DONATE. Friends of Nelson is now incorporated and under a Joint Plan of Work with Virginia Organizing. Virginia Organizing is a 501(c)(3) non-profit so all contributions are tax-deductible in accordance with the law.

10.  BECOME A MEMBER of Friends of Nelson.  Use this membership form.  The more members we have, the more support for our cause we can demonstrate!

11.  KEEP INFORMED!  Sign up for our email list so that we can notify you of important opportunities for public input and other events.  By signing up for the Friends of Nelson email list, you will receive weekly newsletters containing news and information posted on our Web site, as well as important alerts and and time-critical announcements.  Make sure that you add Friends of Nelson (info@friendsofnelson.com) to your contact list so that our emails don’t end up in your spam folder.  You can also check our Web site or Facebook page for the latest information.  Stay informed on the actions and strategies of allied groups and organizations fighting the pipeline. See the list of fellow pipeline fighters on our Links page.

Thank you for your interest and support!