Monthly Archives: April 2014

Like a “good neighbor,” the Supreme Court is there

coal-plantThe U.S. Supreme Court handed a significant win to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency when it revived a federal rule aimed at reducing air pollution that travels across state lines and harms the health of those downwind, and the ability of certain states to meet Clean Air Act requirements.

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N.C. coal plant neighbors ask: “At what cost?”

AWCblogNear the beginning of our new video, Stokes County, N.C., resident Annie Brown says, “I love to turn the switch on and have my lights just like anyone else, but at what cost?” It’s a question we should all ask of ourselves. But we also must direct our elected officials and electric providers to consider the question: at what cost do our outdated energy policies and practices come?

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Concerned neighbors of N.C. coal plant speak out

Contact: Kara Dodson, Field Coordinator, 828-262-1500, kara@appvoices.org Cat McCue, Communications Director, 434-293-6373, cat@appvoices.org Residents living near Duke Energy’s coal-fired power plant on Belews Lake, northeast of Winston-Salem, are worried that toxic air and water pollution from the plant over many

The River City is set to soak up the sun

Solar-Panels-On-HouseSolar energy is no longer a thing of the future — it makes sense right here, right now. That’s the spirit of Virginia’s newest residential renewable energy initiative, SolarizeRVA, which was launched on Tuesday in celebration of Earth Day.

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Mercury No More: Court Upholds EPA Air Toxics Rule

outsource_newsThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — but also public health advocates and anyone who likes to eat fish or breath clean air — gained a significant win this month when a federal appeals court upheld the agency’s Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS).

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Surprised? McCrory’s Coal Ash Proposal Falls Short

coal1North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory’s poorly planned coal ash proposal is catching flak from environmental groups and legislators in his own party who already planned to push for reform during the upcoming legislative session.

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Counteracting Coal’s Dirty Tricks

dirty_stream2Last month, we acted quickly to undermine H.R. 2824, a pro-mountaintop removal bill in the U.S. House of Representatives. While we never expected to prevent the bill from passing the anti-environmental House, our efforts helped to make the perils of mountaintop removal the message of the day.

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The Voice: Toxic Warnings, Trilliums and More

AprilMay2014_cover_small2This latest issue of The Appalachian Voice explores some of the pressing economic and environmental hardships faced by the region today. Read about the ongoing water crises in West Virginia and along the Dan River of North Carolina and Virginia, the continued challenges in the War on Poverty, and the people who are dedicated to achieving solutions.

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Spring Happenings for Clean Water in N.C.

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This spring, many North Carolinians are feeling renewed concern about the threat coal ash poses to our water resources. During the next month, concerned citizens are gathering across the state to make their voices heard and create a cleaner way forward. Find a festival, rally, picnic or community meeting near you!

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The Power of Energy Efficiency — Building a Stronger Economy for Appalachia (Part 1)

urlWhen you think of poverty, what words do you associate with it? Many of us might think of words like “low-income,” “unemployment” or “homelessness.” Unfortunately, it is not often that we associate poverty with electricity costs, because for many across the United States, especially those living in the South and Appalachia, electricity costs play a significant role in worsening the impacts of poverty.

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