Written by Dan Radmacher
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.
EPA Plans to Roll Back Air and Water Protections
Last spring, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced its intention to roll back dozens of vital environmental health protections, calling it the “biggest deregulatory action in U.S. history.”
Gas Buildout Continues Across Southeast
A massive buildout of methane gas infrastructure in Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee is taking place across the Southeast.
EPA moves to weaken long overdue coal ash protections
Yesterday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that it will delay deadlines to require utilities to inspect coal ash contamination and begin to clean up coal ash impoundments with a draft extension rule and companion proposal.
Trump administration rubber stamps bankrupt coal company’s encroachment into Monongahela National Forest
Today, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement determined that a bankrupt coal company with a long history of regulatory violations has the right to haul coal through the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia.
Host of organizations strongly oppose privatization of the Tennessee Valley Authority: Public power belongs to the people
Privatizing TVA would hand over critical public assets, including power plants, transmission lines, dams, parks, lakes, trails and other recreational areas to corporations that serve shareholders, not communities.
Commission ‘accepts’ Dominion’s long-term plan as ‘legally sufficient’ but will require improvements moving forward
Among other significant problems, Dominion’s plans failed to consider the requirement that the utility’s fossil fuel fleet must retire by 2045 under the law, a requirement that permits only narrow exceptions.
Lee County passes resolution supporting black lung benefit increases
Last night, Lee County supervisors passed a resolution urging U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith and U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner to support legislation increasing black lung benefits. Kaine and Warner have supported similar legislation, led by former Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey, in past legislative sessions.
Environment at Risk art exhibition opens July 17 in Glen Allen, Va.
On Thursday, July 17, Appalachian Voices will host a new art exhibition “Environment at Risk” at the Gumenick Family Gallery of The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen in Henrico County, Virginia.
Funding must continue for Appalachian Regional Commission, urge government leaders and community groups
This week, more than 80 state and local government officials, educational institutions, businesses, churches and nonprofits sent a letter to members of Congress calling for sustained funding for the Appalachian Regional Commission.
Appalachian Voices statement on Senate passage of H.R.1, slashing clean energy in favor of billionaire and polluter tax breaks
Today, the U.S. Senate passed the reconciliation bill, H.R. 1, officially known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” The bill will hinder new energy production and lead to an increase in electricity prices for the entire country by repealing energy efficiency and renewable energy tax credits, while creating a new tax credit for metallurgical coal production.
