January 25, 2020
NOW is the time for action in Virginia
Solar energy. Environmental justice. Utility accountability. All these critical issues are being considered this week in Virginia’s General Assembly Your voice is needed today! Contact your delegate and senator on critical bills.
[ Virginia residents: Take action now! ]
Coal ash victory in North Carolina!
North Carolinians won a major victory in January with the announcement that Duke Energy would excavate coal ash from the last six sites in the state. Appalachian Voices is proud to have fought side-by-side with the people who worked so hard, for so long to defend their communities.
[ A look back ]
Seeking a path to 100% clean energy
Towns and cities across Appalachia and the nation have pledged to fully convert to green power — but to do so, they must overcome barriers put in place by utilities and state governments. Read about how local leaders are pushing forward, then check out related stories in The Appalachian Voice.
[ Read the story ]
[ Subscribe to The Voice ]
A monumental win for environmental justice
A federal appeals court struck down the air pollution permit for a fracked-gas compressor station in Buckingham County, Va. Community residents have fought for years against Dominion Energy’s plan to put the Atlantic Coast Pipeline facility in their neighborhood. “You can’t allow the destructive forces to beat you down,” says Chad Oba of Friends of Buckingham. “Persistence matters. It paid off for us and we are going to keep on going.”
[ Read more ]
Local governments call for abandoned mine cleanup
Towns, cities and counties in Southwest Virginia and Pennsylvania are passing resolutions to show their support for cleanup of decades-old abandoned coal mine sites. And a bill that would extend the abandoned mine land program beyond 2021 passed a House committee last week.
[ Contact your representative! ]
Advancing statewide change at Virginia’s capitol
With Virginia’s General Assembly session underway, we are frequenting the capitol in Richmond. Our top priorities? Reforming the state’s energy system to put the public interest above the interests of monopoly utilities, ensuring that all Virginians have equal access to clean, affordable energy, and making sure environmental justice is a part of state agencies’ decision-making.
[ Learn more and get involved! ]
Opposing Duke Energy’s latest rate hike
Duke Energy Progress and Duke Energy Carolinas are both requesting yet another rate hike from their captive customers. But before North Carolina regulators decide whether to allow the rate increases, they are holding a series of public hearings across the state over the next few weeks. Appalachian Voices is among those telling the state, "No more rate hikes for dirty energy!"
