Contact: Ben Luckett, Appalachian Mountain Advocates, 304-645-0125, bluckett@appalmad.org Hannah Wiegard, Appalachian Voices, 804-536-5598, hannah@appvoices.org Anne Havemann, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, 240-396-1984, anne@chesapeakeclimate.org Kirk Bowers, Virginia Chapter, Sierra Club, 434-296-8673, kirk.bowers@sierraclub.org The proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline that would carry natural gas…
Monthly Archives: November 2015
Takin’ 5 with Tony Flaccavento
Tony Flaccavento has been a leading voice for sustainable economic development in southwest Virginia for more than two decades. An organic farmer, small businessman and author, Tony has been making a series of short videos exploring the positive forces of localized, sustainable economies.
TAGS: Appalachian economy economic development Economic diversification Economy southwest virginia sustainable agriculture Virginia
Sizing up APCo’s plan, through customers’ eyes
Appalachian Power Company customers gathered in Roanoke recently to learn more about their electricity provider’s long-term resource plans and get involved in these critical decisions. Here’s a look at how APCo’s plan stands to impede Virginia from harnessing its full renewable energy potential.
TAGS: Appalachian Voices clean energy Climate change Economy Electric Utilities Energy Efficiency Renewable Energy Solar Energy Virginia
New faces, fresh perspectives
We’re excited to welcome two new members to the Appalachian Voices team. Maya Viknius, born and raised in the Ukraine, brings a unique cultural perspective and nearly 20 years experience in accounting, while Leigh Kirchner, a first-generation college graduate with centuries-old roots in Appalachia, adds her regional know-how to our development team.
Focus on Appalachia’s future
The winds of change are blowing in Central Appalachia, carrying voices of people determined to see their communities thrive in a future where the coal industry no longer dominates. Executive Director Tom Cormons reflects on our achievements in 2015, including the opening of our new office in southwest Virginia where we have made tremendous progress engaging with local citizens to envision a new, sustainable economy.
Crowdsourcing Southwest Virginia’s New Economy
Appalachian Voices is on the ground in southwest Virginia, holding community forums and engaging with citizens from all walks of life to gather their hopes and visions for creating a new economy in the region. You might think of it as old-fashioned crowdsourcing. Soon, we’ll have an online, modern-day crowdsourcing platform to gather more ideas and details to help make these visions become reality.
TAGS: economic development Economic diversification Economy Power southwest virginia transition Wise County
North Carolina lawmakers put fracking first
Residents across North Carolina are looking to their local government officials to oppose fracking since pleas to decision makers in Raleigh have largely fallen on deaf ears. The town of Walnut Cove, N.C., and Rockingham County recently joined the small but growing list of localities where commissions of elected officials have passed anti-fracking moratoriums.
Appalachians Look to Branch Out from Coal-Based Economy
Contact: Adam Wells, Appalachian Voices, (276) 679-1691, adam@appvoices.org Gabby Gillespie, The Alliance for Appalachia, (276) 220-5048, gabby.gillespie@sierraclub.org Eric Dixon, Appalachian Citizens Law Center, (865) 202-8688, eric@appalachianlawcenter.org Two dozen local government entities in the heart of Central Appalachia’s coalfields have passed…
TAGS: abandoned mine lands aml economic development Economic diversification jobs just transition Power Power-Plus transition
I heard it through the pipeline
From Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s perspective, it’s probably best to just keep a lid on what state officials say publicly about controversial natural gas pipelines proposed to cut through the state. But among opponents of the pipelines, the administration’s actions are only deepening skepticism of the governor and his relationship with the projects’ primary backers.
TAGS: appalachia clean energy Climate change Dominion Electric Utilities Environment Natural Gas pipelines Politics Virginia
Pro-solar group gets on Duke Energy’s bad side
Duke Energy wants to smack down NC WARN for setting up a experimental solar project on the rooftop of a Greensboro church and testing a law prohibiting third-party electricity sales in North Carolina. The company is not helping its reputation for quashing clean energy efforts that aren’t its own.
