May 19, 2018

Coal ash rules may change
EPA head Scott Pruitt announced plans to dramatically weaken federal regulations governing how toxic coal ash is disposed of and stored across the country. In the wake of accidents and activism, changes to North Carolina's state coal ash rules are also being proposed.
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Sparking Petrochemical Valley?
The plastics industry wants to expand into the Ohio River Valley, which could mean more pipelines carrying fracked-gas liquids and more polluting facilities like the cracker plant currently under construction in western Pennsylvania.
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Electric co-ops can provide more than power
Electric co-ops can move beyond power Rural electric cooperatives, a fixture in U.S. communities since the early 20th century, are in the unique position to provide not only electricity, but innovative solutions to rural challenges such as broadband access and sustainable forestry. Which raises the question — what is your electric co-op doing for you?
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Virginians! Tell DEQ to protect your water from fracked-gas pipelines
The federal permits to construct the Mountain Valley and Atlantic Coast pipelines will do little to protect Virginia waterways from pollution. Contact the state DEQ today and tell them we deserve the higher level of scrutiny and protections under Virginia’s water quality standards!
Salamander stories
Appalachia abounds with salamanders, but climate change may be causing their range to shrink. Meet several of the lungless salamanders that depend on our lush, complex mountain ecosystems.