The Front Porch Blog, with Updates from AppalachiaThe Front Porch Blog, with Updates from Appalachia

SCOTUS pauses the Clean Power Plan, for now

Wednesday, February 10th, 2016 | Posted by Brian Sewell | No Comments

After a setback dealt by the U.S. Supreme Court, it’s imperative that decision makers in our region understand the opportunities presented by the Clean Power Plan rather than falsely attacking it as the cause of the coal industry’s hard times. [ Read More ]


A winning approach for the Clean Power Plan in Virginia

Thursday, January 14th, 2016 | Posted by Hannah Wiegard | No Comments

A new study shows that, in complying with the federal Clean Power Plan, Virginia should prioritize renewable energy and energy efficiency and allow for participation in carbon trading with other states in order to boost economic activity, cut electricity costs, and safeguard healthy air. Such an approach could yield more than $25 million a year for economic development efforts in Southwest Virginia. [ Read More ]


Budget holds promise for Central Appalachia

Friday, December 18th, 2015 | Posted by Thom Kay | 1 Comment

Today the U.S. Congress passed a spending bill that covers expenditures for agencies including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Department of the Interior, Department of Labor, and the Appalachian Regional Commission. The spending bill is a big deal for Appalachian Voices and our work. And honestly, it looks pretty darn good. [ Read More ]


NC DEQ’s blatant bid for control

Tuesday, December 8th, 2015 | Posted by Ridge Graham | No Comments

Over the past few months, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality has seemed determined to have complete environmental regulatory control with little regard for federal or public input. In this endeavor, DEQ has taken every chance to highlight how external forces, including citizens groups and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, are simply getting in its way. [ Read More ]


EPA limits coal plants’ toxic discharges. Finally.

Thursday, October 1st, 2015 | Posted by Amy Adams | No Comments

Finally, the EPA is taking action on cleaning up toxic wastewater discharges from the nation's power plants. A new rule out this week updates standards from 32 years ago, which virtually granted license to utilities to discharge unlimited toxins into streams, rivers and lakes. [ Read More ]


Peculiar Patriot Coal deal raises questions

Thursday, August 20th, 2015 | Posted by Tarence Ray | 1 Comment

What would a health care executive-turned-environmentalist want with the dying business of mining coal? That’s the question some are asking after the announcement that a Virginia environmentalist plans to acquire assets, and assume around $400 million in liabilities, from recently-bankrupt Patriot Coal. [ Read More ]


Virginians’ electric bills could shrink under Clean Power Plan

Monday, July 20th, 2015 | Posted by Hannah Wiegard | No Comments

A report by Public Citizen’s Climate Program details how the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's soon-to-be finalized standards on carbon pollution could lower Virginians' power bills. The strategy for achieving this benefit is simple: invest in cost-effective energy efficiency programs first. [ Read More ]


How much progress are we making on ending mountaintop removal?

Wednesday, July 15th, 2015 | Posted by Erin Savage | No Comments

Last week, the U.S. Energy Information Administration pointed to a steep decline in coal produced by mountaintop removal mining. But a closer examination of the data calls into question the adequacy of the legal definition of “mountaintop removal” and, more importantly, demonstrates that much more work is needed to truly end destructive mining practices in Central Appalachia. [ Read More ]


Supreme Court delivers blow to EPA’s mercury rule

Monday, June 29th, 2015 | Posted by Brian Sewell | No Comments

In a major decision today, the Supreme Court ruled the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency did not properly consider costs when it created a rule to limit mercury emissions from power plants. But the agency has a mandate and a clear path forward to protect public health by limiting emissions of mercury and other toxic air pollutants. [ Read More ]


Appalachian legislators give POWER+ the cold shoulder

Friday, June 26th, 2015 | Posted by Adam Wells | 1 Comment

economyVirginia’s coal-bearing counties would directly benefit from the adoption of the POWER+ plan, a proposal in the Obama administration’s 2016 budget that would direct more than a billion dollars to Central Appalachia. But budget bills passed out of both houses of Congress weaken or include no mention of the POWER+ Plan. [ Read More ]


Duke expands coal ash cleanup, but leaves N.C. communities in danger

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2015 | Posted by Amy Adams | No Comments

12311876586_dd088acae8_zDuke Energy announced it plans to excavate coal ash from ponds at three power plant sites in North Carolina, along with two more at its South Carolina facilities. But the fates of several sites that pose significant threats to drinking water and surrounding communities remain unclear. [ Read More ]


Score one for the Clean Power Plan

Tuesday, June 9th, 2015 | Posted by Cat McCue | No Comments

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals today rebuked the first legal challenge to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal to cut global-warming pollution from the nation's power plants. In a straightforward ruling, the court said the states and the industry groups had no legal grounds to challenge EPA’s “Clean Power Plan” since it has yet to be finalized. [ Read More ]



 

 


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