Monthly Archives: March 2014

Heroes and Hyperbole: U.S. House Passes Pro-Mountaintop Removal Bill

bS4k69iLast week, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to roll back stream protections in an effort to make it easier to dump waste from mountaintop removal mines into Appalachian streams. Given the makeup of the House right now, this comes as no surprise. But there is a silver lining.

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Another Week of Coal Ash Coverage in North Carolina

12310805543_fdedeeee35_bSince the Dan River coal ash spill drew national attention to the threats coal ash poses to waterways, North Carolinians have come together to tell state regulators and elected officials that the risks associated with Duke Energy’s mismanaged and outdated coal ash ponds are unacceptable. Here is a round up of the ongoing news coverage of North Carolina’s coal ash problem in the wake of the spill.

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Clean energy works, I heard it on the radio

800px-Fisher_500_radio The more that Virginia news outlets cover the ins and outs of energy, the more Virginians will understand where our electricity comes from and whether these sources are safe, reliable and affordable for all. So tune in to this recent five-part series highlighting the opportunities and obstacles for clean energy in the commonwealth.

Mountaintop removal bill passed by U.S. House imperils Appalachian waters

Contact: Thom Kay, legislative associate, 864-580-1843, thom@appvoices.org The U.S. House of Representatives voted today to make it easier for coal companies to dump mining waste from mountaintop removal sites into Appalachian streams and the headwaters of rivers that provide drinking

Supreme Court Rejects Spruce Mine Mountaintop Removal Case

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The U.S. Supreme Court says it won’t consider the case of Mingo Logan Coal Co. v. EPA, a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to veto mountaintop removal permits. In this case, the permits in question are for Arch Coal’s Spruce Mine No. 1 — the largest mountaintop removal project ever proposed in West Virginia.

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Pro-Mountaintop Removal Bill Headed to House Floor

congress It’s hard to get a good bill all the way through the legislative process to receive a vote on the House floor. Apparently it’s much easier to get a bad bill that far. H.R. 2824 — pro-mountaintop removal legislation that would weaken protections for Appalachian streams — is expected to head to the House floor for a full vote sometime next week.

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Fouling Our Nest: Coal Ash Roundup and Next Steps

watertestingWe’ve watched national interest in North Carolina’s coal ash mess grow over the past month and a half, and it’s been a wild ride. The Dan River spill on Feb. 2 sparked a wave of support for closing the 33 ash ponds owned by Duke Energy polluting North Carolina’s surface and ground waters. Here are the most recent developments.

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Electricity Costs Tied to Poverty in the South

povertymapblogFifty years ago, President Johnson declared a “war on poverty” in America, and Congress passed legislation to increase support and economic opportunities for the poor. Appalachia was the “poster region” for this grand endeavor. Today, a “war on wasted energy” makes sense for many reasons, and it would provide a much-needed boost to communities in Appalachia and across the South who are most in need.

Emails indicate coordination between Duke Energy and DENR on coal ash lawsuits

800px-Dan_River_Steam_StationThe Associated Press reported today that emails between N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources officials, the N.C. Department of Justice and lawyer for Duke Energy indicate how DENR coordinated closely with Duke after it blocked citizens groups from suing the company over coal ash pollution.

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Patriot Co. slurry spill in W.Va. violated water discharge permit

Contact: Erin Savage, Water Quality Specialist, Appalachian Voices, 828-262-1500, erin@appvoices.org Cat McCue, Communications Director, Appalachian Voices, 434-293-6373, cat@appvoices.org Rob Goodwin, Citizen Enforcement Specialist, Coal River Mountain Watch, 304-712-9854 robert.alton.goodwin@gmail.com Test results from water samples taken from Fields Creek the day

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