Monthly Archives: February 2015

Appalachian Voices and FloydFest 2015

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It’s official — Appalachian Voices is partnering with one of the premiere music and arts festivals in the country to spread some serious love for mountains! This year, we were chosen to be Floydfest’s featured nonprofit, and together we’re cooking up some fun and exciting ways to promote stewardship of the Appalachian mountains during the 5-day extravaganza.

Apologies for the Dan River spill, guilt for coal ash crimes

Dan RiverDuke Energy likes to use a tagline about how, for more than 100 years, it has provided affordable, reliable electricity to its customers “at the flip of a switch.” But a year after the Dan River spill, Duke seems to accept that coal ash pollution has its own chapter in the company’s corporate story. Now, facing federal criminal charges, Duke will pay for its crimes.

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Moving Appalachia forward

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President Obama recently proposed more than $1 billion in funding to restore lands and waters in coal-impacted communities and boost efforts to grow sustainable local economies. It’s a sound idea, and a long time coming, although Congress may not approve it. Meanwhile, Appalachian Voices and others continue working to move the region forward.

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Groups Seek to Ensure Ky. Enforces Clean Water Law

Contacts: Eric Chance, Appalachian Voices, 828-262-1500, eric@appvoices.org Ted Withrow, Kentuckians For The Commonwealth, 606-782-0998 (c), tfwithrow@windstream.net Pat Banks, Kentucky Riverkeeper, 859-200-7442, kyriverkeeper@eku.edu Pete Harrison, Waterkeeper Alliance, 828-582-0422, pharrison@waterkeeper.org Adam Beitman, Sierra Club, 202-675-2385, adam.beitman@sierraclub.org Frankfort – A coalition of citizens

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Déjà vu in Kentucky clean water cases

15813913282_fd4c121114_zFriday, Appalachian Voices and our partners filed a motion to intervene in a case between the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet and Frasure Creek Mining to ensure clean water laws are being enforced in Kentucky. To anyone following our lawsuits in Kentucky, these recent developments will sound familiar.

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Virginia lawmakers act on energy bills

As the Virginia General Assembly enters the final days of its 2015 session, we can look back on five action-packed weeks. Among the many issues our lawmakers labored over, a few — including changes to state energy policy — were explosive enough to consistently make headlines. Here’s a recap of the drama, along with a few important policies that received less fanfare.

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Duke Energy guilty in N.C. coal ash pollution

Contact: Cat McCue, Communications Director, 434-293-6373, cat@appvoices.org Duke Energy has reached a plea agreement with federal prosecutors in the criminal investigation into the company’s handling of coal ash in North Carolina. According to a Duke Energy press release, the plea

Criminal charges filed against Duke Energy

12311876586_dd088acae8_zThe U.S. Department of Justice has filed criminal charges against Duke Energy for violating the federal Clean Water Act at coal ash sites across North Carolina. The company announced today that it has reached a plea agreement with federal prosecutors to resolve the charges that includes $102.2 million for fines and mitigation.

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Va. Transportation Panel Acts on Controversial Highway

Contact: Cat McCue, Communications Director, 434-293-6373, cat@appvoices.org The Commonwealth Transportation Board today voted to approve a re-routing of a 4-mile highway project near Grundy. The project, called “Section lllB,” is part of the overall proposed Coalfields Expressway in Southwest Virginia,

“Clean coal” is on the fritz

Futuregen_DOE_Concept_artFrom The Appalachian Voice Online: As one of the most high-profile and hyped-up projects of its kind, the FutureGen “clean coal” plant in Illinois was supposed make history. So the announcement that the U.S. Department of Energy is backing out of its $1.1 billion funding promise to the project sent a shockwave through the coal sector and investors, energy analysts and environmentalists all took note.

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