Please support HB1075. I am very opposed to the data center that is coming to Wytheville, VA because it will drive up our already high electric bills. Thank you for helping us lower our utility bills.

I support HB 1075 for so many reasons as numbered below: 1) The huge profit margins for the power companies are just wrong. 2) Citizens like me simply cannot afford high electric bills that are on fixed incomes. I practice a high level of conserving power here with a wood stove, turning off pc's, appliances and power strips, along with minimal lighting, less laundry usage. I could go on, but I will not. 3). If this is to accommodate data centers and offer incentives to billionaires, the answer is a big NO. 4). This winter has been especially hard on so many people here in VA. There should be more solar on parking garages (not farmland) to help with the power grid during these harsh winters. More and more citizens need to cut back on usage and find alternative ways to not use electric and conserve. After all, it is a collective effort to make necessary changes.

I support HB 1075 for so many reasons as numbered below: 1) The huge profit margins for the power companies are just wrong. 2) Citizens like me simply cannot afford high electric bills that are on fixed incomes. I practice a high level of conserving power here with a wood stove, turning off pc's, appliances and power strips, along with minimal lighting, less laundry usage. I could go on, but I will not. 3). If this is to accommodate data centers and offer incentives to billionaires, the answer is a big NO. 4). This winter has been especially hard on so many people here in VA. There should be more solar on parking garages(not farmland) to help with the power grid during these harsh winters. More and more citizens need to cut back on usage and find alternative ways to not use electric and conserve. After all , it is a collective effort to make necessary changes.

HB155 – Support Good afternoon Mister Chair and members. My name is Edwuan Whitehead, Public Policy Director for the Center for Common Ground. I support HB155. Many Virginians face barriers when public processes lack clarity or consistency. These difficulties limit access to services and civic engagement, especially in rural, low income, and marginalized communities. HB155 strengthens transparency and helps ensure residents can navigate systems with confidence. We urge your support. HB658 – Support Good afternoon Mister Chair. I am Edwuan Whitehead with the Center for Common Ground. I support HB658. Residents across the Commonwealth struggle with unclear instructions, limited broadband, and transportation challenges that block access to essential services. HB658 improves responsiveness and creates more equitable pathways for residents seeking support. This bill moves Virginia toward a fairer and more accessible public system. We ask for your support. HB503 – Support Good afternoon Mister Chair. My name is Edwuan Whitehead and I support HB503 on behalf of the Center for Common Ground. Families we serve rely on predictable and understandable public processes. When requirements are confusing or communication is inconsistent, unnecessary burdens fall on those with the least time and resources. HB503 improves clarity and strengthens accountability, helping restore trust between residents and the systems that serve them. We urge passage of HB503. HB1256 – Support Good afternoon Mister Chair and members. I am Edwuan Whitehead, Public Policy Director for the Center for Common Ground. I support HB1256. The communities we serve regularly face delays and procedural confusion that keep them from receiving essential services. HB1256 helps modernize these pathways by improving usability and reducing avoidable obstacles. This bill supports equity, stability, and more efficient service delivery. We respectfully request your support. HB1075 – Support Good afternoon Mister Chair. My name is Edwuan Whitehead and I support HB1075. Residents across Virginia describe how unclear procedures and inconsistent communication prevent them from meeting obligations or accessing critical resources. HB1075 strengthens access and fairness for families who balance work, caregiving, and travel limitations. This bill helps ensure government processes function as intended, with clarity and consistency. We ask the committee to advance HB1075. HB591 – Support Good afternoon Mister Chair. I am Edwuan Whitehead with the Center for Common Ground. I support HB591. Virginians often encounter delays and procedural hurdles that create avoidable hardship and discourage civic engagement. HB591 increases transparency, improves access, and brings much needed consistency to systems relied on by vulnerable households. This bill helps ensure public services meet the needs of all communities. We urge your support for HB591. HB1379 – Support Good afternoon Mister Chair and members. My name is Edwuan Whitehead and I support HB1379. Many families across the Commonwealth face real barriers when navigating public systems, especially those managing multiple jobs, caregiving responsibilities, or limited transportation. HB1379 improves clarity, lowers procedural burdens, and supports more equitable outcomes. This bill allows residents to engage with greater stability and confidence. We respectfully request passage of HB1379.

Appalachian Power Company’s energy costs continue to increase and affordability should be extended to all Virginians. I respectfully urge you to support this bill.