Kentucky researchers prepare to test for fracking-induced earthquakes, a university fracking site stirs controversy in West Virginia, and suspicion rises that there may be natural gas beneath Stokes County, North Carolina.
Monthly Archives: July 2015
N.C. Solar Snapshot
A 20-megawatt solar farm under construction near Biscoe, N.C., is projected to power the equivalent of 3,500 homes when it is completed in November.
Groups Test Boundaries of N.C. Solar Laws
In a direct challenge to North Carolina laws governing electricity sales, clean energy group NC WARN financed a solar project on a church roof and plans to sell the energy to the church for about half of Duke Energy’s solar rate.
Report Analyzes Economic Impact of Abandoned Mine Lands Program
A new report examines how federal funding to remediate abandoned mine lands could be implemented in a way that helps Appalachian communities struggling with coal’s decline.
Virginia Utilities Release Generation Plans
Appalachian Power Company and Dominion Power released their electric power generation plans this July. While APC released a comprehensive energy generation plan plotting the next 15 years, Dominion released a short-term plan with different options.
Data Showing Decline in Surface Coal Production Raises Questions
Data shows a steep decline in coal production from Appalachian surface mines, yet the data doesn’t fully account for the extent of mountaintop removal coal mining.
Energy Report News Bites
The Southeast’s First Utility-Scale Wind Farm Breaks Ground, Clean Water Act Clarified, and Air Pollution Standards Challenged in N.C.
Contaminated Drinking Wells Near Ash Ponds
As of July, the N.C. health department sent “do not drink” notices to 301 homeowners near coal ash ponds whose well water contains dangerous levels of heavy metals and other contaminants associated with coal ash.
A moment of truth for Kentucky’s coal regulators
A striking case of corruption related to mine inspections in Kentucky led to the recent criminal conviction of former Democratic state representative Keith Hall. But questions remain about how deep the conspiracy goes. Will Governor Steve Beshear and the state agencies that enforce mining laws in Kentucky adequately investigate?
TAGS: appalachia Clean Water Act Coal Environment Health Kentucky Kentucky Litigation Mountaintop Removal Politics Water Pollution
Promoting the Power Plan as a Plus for Appalachia
Appalachian Voices has been busy promoting the Power-Plus Plan, which would among other things support job retraining for former miners, provide funds for community infrastructure improvements and direct new funding to clean up abandoned mines while creating new jobs.
