Monthly Archives: January 2015

N.C. Citizens Gather to Demand Cleanup of Duke Energy’s Coal Ash

Contacts: Sarah Kellogg, N.C. Field Organizer, 919-616-0830 Pictures of the event can be found here. Walnut Cove, N.C.– More than 50 concerned citizens gathered today at Belews Lake to demand the full cleanup of coal ash ponds across North Carolina,

Our Energy Savings campaign is heating up in the High Country

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Back in October we launched the High Country Home Energy Makeover Contest as part of our campaign to motivate Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corp. to offer an on-bill financing program for their members in western North Carolina. We solicited enough support to pay for energy efficiency retrofits for three Blue Ridge Electric members. Read on to meet the contest winners.

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Virginia must guard against Freedom Industries-type spill

sachsUniversity of Richmond law professor Noah Sachs recalls the W.Va. crisis last year, when some 300,000 people were left without clean tap water because of a major spill from chemical storage tanks. Guess what – Virginia essentially has no laws to regulate land-based storage of toxic chemicals near rivers. As Sachs has documented, dozens of businesses each storing more than 1 million pounds of toxic chemicals are located on major rivers, including the James, Shenandoah and Potomac.

Cheating shouldn’t pay

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Appalachian Voices and our Kentucky partners scored a major victory when a judge, ruling on our case against a lawbreaking coal company, vigorously admonished state regulators for not enforcing the Clean Water Act. The state appealed, so as we head into 2015 it’s clear that our work throughout the Appalachian region is more important than ever.

Home Energy Contest Reveals Pressing Need in Western NC

Residents spend three times national average on energy bills Contact: Rory McIlmoil, Energy Policy Director, 828-262-1500, rory@appvoices.org Sarah Kellogg, North Carolina Field Organizer, 828-262-1500, sarah@appvoices.org Boone, N.C. — In announcing the three winners of its “High Country Home Energy Makeover

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Decent news for N.C. solar power

According to a report by Environment North Carolina, the state ranks fourth nationally for installed photovoltaic solar power in 2013. The N.C. Utilities Commission’s decision to renew a set of rules governing the contracts between electric utilities and independent power producers allows the state’s solar developers to begin the new year on steady footing.

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To protect or prosecute polluters?

FrasureCreek_waterKentucky regulators recently filed an administrative complaint against Frasure Creek Mining for hundreds of violations of the Clean Water Act. As we wait to see if the state is going to take its responsibility to protect the people and water of Kentucky from pollution seriously, Appalachian Voices will continue to do whatever we can to ensure that Frasure Creek and other polluters are held accountable.

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Top five energy bills in Virginia (at the moment)

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The Virginia General Assembly started last Wednesday, and the stage is set for an interesting couple of months while legislators tussle over a slew of energy bills–some good, and some very, very bad. Here’s the rundown…

Well, that was quick

davidvitterIt was only a matter of time before the new Congress would commence with its anti-environmental, anti-science agenda. But 24 hours? That we weren’t expecting.

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Winners of Home Energy Contest in N.C. to be Announced

Results show strong need for energy efficiency funding in the High Country Contact: Sarah Kellogg, N.C. Field Organizer, 828-262-1500, sarah@appvoices.org Boone, N.C. — Next Thursday, January 22, Appalachian Voices will announce the winners of its “High Country Home Energy Makeover”

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