Focusing on the Sun
Danville, Va., recently approved two new solar projects to replace a power supply contract that will expire in 2021. The solar projects were the most affordable option due in part to federal tax credits available to the solar providers.
Too Close to Home
A new study published in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS One concludes that the minimum safe distance between a fracking facility and the nearest occupied building should be a quarter of a mile, which is more than twice the distance currently required by most states.
Frack Water Impacts
While the number of new fracking wells in the United States decreased, the amount of water used by each well has increased by 770 percent between 2011 and 2016, according to an August study published in Science Advances. Simultaneously, the amount of toxic wastewater generated by the process increased by as much as 1440 percent.
Tax Breaks for Coal
As the state’s Public Employees Insurance Agency considers an increase in the taxes charged to extractive industries to generate revenue, the West Virginia Coal Association is asking for the 5 percent in taxes the industry currently pays to be reduced to 2 percent. — By Elizabeth E. Payne
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English Language Learning in Appalachia
Learning English is always difficult. But current aggressive approaches to immigration policy are creating more barriers for learners and the programs that serve them than ever before in Appalachia and beyond.
Landfill Drama
Many residents of Pike County, Kentucky, are breathing a sigh of relief since county commissioners finalized their decision to rescind a contract with an out-of-state waste management company.
Overdrive: Fossil Fuels in Appalachia
Electricity demand is on the rise. Here, we share snapshots of energy trends in the region and how methane gas, coal and data centers are affecting our communities — and how people are pushing back.
Less Support for Communities with Mine Problems
The Trump administration issued a regulation to weaken the Ten Day Notice process that helps community members call in federal enforcement when state regulators don’t do a good job policing environmental problems at coal mines
Chaos at the Tennessee Valley Authority, Cuts to Public Input
The past year has brought turmoil and uncertainty to the Tennessee Valley Authority, the nation’s largest public power provider, and its more than 10 million customers across the Tennessee Valley.
Landmark Coal Ash Protections Under Attack
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is planning to eviscerate important, hard-won regulations on coal ash, a toxic waste left after burning coal for energy.
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