Written by Dan Radmacher

AVMountainBorder-frontporch1

Dan Radmacher

Dan is Appalachian Voice's Media Specialist. Previously, he worked as an opinion journalist for newspapers in Illinois, West Virginia, Florida and Virginia, and then as a communications consultant for a number of environmental nonprofit organizations.

Judge rules that Virginia regulators didn’t have authority to end state participation in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

Today, the Floyd County Circuit Court released a ruling that the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, its director and the State Air Pollution Control Board did not have the authority to end Virginia’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. 

Read More

Statement from Appalachian Voices on Biden Administration request for $98 billion in disaster funding

Today, the Biden administration sent a request to Congress for $98 billion in supplemental disaster funding to recover from Hurricane Helene, as well as Hurricane Milton and other disasters across the country since 2022.

Read More

Advocates, community members call on NC regulators to reject the air permit application for the Hyco Lake gas plants

On Tuesday, Nov. 12, community members and advocates expressed their opposition to Duke Energy’s plans to build two new methane gas-fired power plants near Hyco Lake in northern Person County.

Read More
This Sun Tribe Solar project utilizes native plantings, which provide pollinator habitat and reduce erosion. By creating a cooler microclimate, native plantings can even increase the efficiency of the panels! Photo by Sun Tribe Solar

Russell County Solar Open House invitation to community members

The Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia and Energy Right are hosting a solar open house for residents of Russell County and surrounding counties.

Read More

Lexington Coal held in contempt for third time for continuing to violate federal court order to stop polluting West Virginia streams

Today, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia held Lexington Coal Company in contempt for the third time for the company’s ongoing refusal to address the environmental damage caused by its coal mining operations in Appalachia. 

Read More

Community groups ask judge to halt mining and hold A&G Coal in contempt for violating court-ordered mine clean-up deadlines

Today, three community groups — Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards, Appalachian Voices and the Sierra Club — filed a motion to hold A&G Coal Company in contempt of court for failure to comply with a prior consent decree.

Read More
North Carolina gas build-out map showing the proposed Transco SSEP and T-15 pipelines, compressors, methane gas plants, and Moriah Energy Center liquified methane gas storage facility. Map by Appalachian Voices

Williams Companies submits federal application for massive new methane pipeline

Today, pipeline operator Williams Companies submitted a new application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for a 42” methane gas pipeline proposed for Virginia and North Carolina.

Read More

In message to presidential candidates, leaders from coal-impacted communities highlight economic transition progress and necessary next steps

Today, local, regional and national organizations sent a letter to both 2024 major party presidential candidates outlining progress made in support of sustainable economic development in coal-impacted communities.

Read More

Dominion Energy’s continued reliance on fossil fuels shows disregard for Virginia’s clean energy requirements

The plan fails to model investments in renewables at the level needed to move us to a zero-carbon grid and instead relies on retaining the company’s current fossil fuel fleet through 2039.

Read More
Under TVA's plan, smokestacks at the Cumberland Fossil Plant would continue to spew pollution into the air.

Court order stops construction of TVA’s Cumberland Pipeline

Press release from the Southern Environmental Law Center,…

Read More