Written by Ben Bolling
Ben Bolling
Confronting Rising Black Lung
Amid an ongoing surge in severe black lung disease among coal miners, federal lawmakers have introduced a number of bills aimed at assisting affected miners and their families. The Inflation Reduction Act shored up funding for benefits, and advocates are pushing for additional measures.
Conservation Crew Builds Trails in Dante, Virginia
Conservation crew members spent 10 weeks creating trails in Southwest Virginia.
No Easy Answers on Coal Ash Cleanup
To protect groundwater and community health, coal ash ponds must be cleaned up. But, as communities in Tennessee have learned, safely removing the toxic waste brings its own set of challenges.
Interagency Group Aims to Get Federal Funds to Coal Communities
The Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization has a guide to help coal-impacted communities access federal funding opportunities.
Solar Panels on Southwest Virginia Schools Signal a Diversifying Economy
School solar projects demonstrate how Virginia’s coalfield counties are diversifying their economies and energy options with solar power.
Floods Devastate Communities Throughout Central Appalachia
In flood-ravaged areas of Central Appalachia, recovery is expected to be a long process.
A Community of Resistance
Nancy Bouldin, Lynda Majors, and Donna Pitt have fought the Mountain Valley Pipeline since 2014, uniting in a coalition that spans multiple states.
Biden Administration Proposes Restoration of Mercury Pollution Rules
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently proposed reinstating a legal finding that supports restrictions on the amount of mercury that may be discharged by power plants.