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

Protect natural resources for Southwest Virginia’s future

Wednesday, February 15th, 2017 | Posted by Guest Contributor | No Comments

For all my life, the coal economy has ruled this region and its people," writes Ron Short of Danville, Va., in a letter supporting the Stream Protection Rule. "Now we are facing the demise of the coal industry, and we must save the valuable natural resources that we have left if we are ever to develop cultural tourism and eco-tourism as important parts of a new economy that works for everyone." [ Read More ]


Southwest Virginians speak out against Doe Branch Mine

Tuesday, November 15th, 2016 | Posted by Willie Dodson | No Comments

“God gave us the water so we can stay clean, and so we can drink it. I don’t want poison in the water.” Those are the words of 6-year-old Levi Marney, spoken to representatives of the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy at a public meeting about the proposed Doe Branch mountaintop removal mine in Haysi. [ Read More ]


Boone community comes together to tackle energy waste

Thursday, October 20th, 2016 | Posted by Katie Kienbaum | No Comments

At the first-ever Boone Energy Stakeholder Meeting, Appalachian Voices and other stakeholders took an important first step toward identifying solutions that could help tackle the problem of energy waste for the Town of Boone. [ Read More ]


Speaking up for energy savings

Tuesday, June 21st, 2016 | Posted by Guest Contributor | No Comments

A story on We Own It, a national network to help electric cooperative members rediscover their role as owners of a democratically-controlled enterprise, recounts the efforts of Appalachian Voices’ Energy Savings for the High Country campaign — and how we helped members of Blue Ridge Electric get their co-op’s attention on energy efficiency. [ Read More ]


Announcing the Energy Savings for Appalachia webinar series

Tuesday, May 24th, 2016 | Posted by Amber Moodie-Dyer | No Comments

If you happened to miss our first energy efficiency on-bill financing webinar on May 11, don’t despair. You can watch the recording of the webinar, which is the first in a series describing the benefits of on-bill financing entitled “Leveraging Energy Savings: On-bill Financing as an Economic Opportunity in the Southeast.” [ Read More ]


Drinking water problems still plague eastern Kentucky

Friday, May 6th, 2016 | Posted by Tarence Ray | 5 Comments

After a nearby creek ran bright yellow last month, residents of Martin County, Ky., still have questions for local and state officials — and that’s not uncommon in a county that has seen its fair share of coal slurry spills and municipal water problems. So why are so many officials ignoring the problem? [ Read More ]


Peabody Energy joins coal bankruptcy club

Thursday, April 14th, 2016 | Posted by Brian Sewell | No Comments

While the company no longer operates in Central Appalachia, the story of Peabody Energy’s downfall is similar to those of major producers in the region, where coal mining communities have plenty of first-hand experience with what happens next. [ Read More ]


Sleeping giants: TVA and Georgia Power stuck in second gear on energy efficiency

Wednesday, March 30th, 2016 | Posted by Guest Contributor | No Comments

While even the region’s top achievers have room for improvement, some of the largest utilities in the Southeast are seriously falling behind on energy efficiency. In particular, the Tennessee Valley Authority and Georgia Power are two enormously capable utilities that appear to be stuck in second gear. [ Read More ]


Responding to “Appalachia’s Distress”

Tuesday, March 1st, 2016 | Posted by Brian Sewell | 2 Comments

Over the weekend, a letter by our Executive Director Tom Cormons to the editors of The New York Times appeared on the newspaper’s website. It was penned in part to stress the importance of the Stream Protection Rule and to urge federal regulators to stand firm in the face of industry opposition, and finalize it. [ Read More ]


Action needed: Va. General Assembly considers pipeline policy fixes

Thursday, February 4th, 2016 | Posted by Hannah Wiegard | No Comments

Late last month, we learned that the U.S. Forest Service rejected the Atlantic Coast Pipeline’s proposed route. This development significantly checks the lickety-split pace of the project. If that renews your desire to take action, there are opportunities channel that feeling into these important legislative fights in the General Assembly. [ Read More ]


Do bankrupt coal company executives really deserve bonuses?

Tuesday, January 26th, 2016 | Posted by Brian Sewell | 1 Comment

Witnessing the one-sidedness of coal bankruptcies in Appalachia and their aftershocks goes to show who has a voice and whose voices the system values. Take Alpha Natural Resources, which recently received approval to pay its executives millions in bonuses despite not having made a profit since 2011. [ Read More ]


Our hope for the year ahead

Friday, January 22nd, 2016 | Posted by Tom Cormons | 1 Comment

Appalachian Voices is beginning 2016 stronger than ever and positioned to advance a positive future for the region we all love. Standing with citizens from across Appalachia and from all walks of life, we are hard at work and have high hopes for the year ahead. [ Read More ]



 

 


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