Written by AV's Intern Team
AV's Intern Team
Every year, Appalachian Voices is fortunate to assemble a phenomenal team of rockstar interns from numerous Appalachian and East Coast universities. Enjoy these posts from our interns.
A week of action to stop zombie coal mines
This week, Appalachian Voices and 12 partner organizations are on Capitol Hill to tell Congress to protect our communities by making coal companies clean up their functionally abandoned coal mines, known as zombie mines.
Coal bankruptcies continue to put a strain on communities
It is far too easy for coal companies to use bankruptcy to effectively hit a reset button. Once they file for bankruptcy, damages they caused and obligations they committed to are often no longer their responsibility.
Views and Brews
There’s nothing better than some time on the trail followed by a smooth cup of java or something with a little kick. Enjoy this carefully crafted list of the perfect pairings.
Reducing Methane Emissions from Wells Could Create Tens of Thousands of Jobs
Decommissioning unplugged oil and gas wells and reducing emissions at operating wells in accordance with new federal guidelines would create tens of thousands of jobs across four states, according to a recent report.
WV Companies Deploying Federal Manufacturing and Clean Energy Incentives
Four West Virginia school districts welcomed West Virginia-made electric school buses, and an old machine shop is being transformed into a center for advanced manufacturing.
Lowering Costs for Energy-Efficient Home Upgrades
Tax credits and rebates can help homeowners make energy-efficient upgrades.
Real Stories of the Rural Energy for America Program
Dive into these stories of Appalachian entrepreneurs and farmers leveraging the Rural Energy for America Program to build a greener future for their communities.
The slow, steady process of making regulators and coal companies monitor pollution
In late summer of 2022, Appalachian Voices discovered selenium, a common pollutant associated with coal mining, in high concentrations in certain streams in the Big Sandy River watershed in Pike County, Kentucky. These waterways receive runoff from the S-1 Hunts Branch Surface Mine, a nearly 2,000-acre mountaintop removal coal mine operated by Lexington Coal Company.
New report shows alarming lack of mine cleanup progress in Kentucky
A recent study found that nearly 40% of the “active” surface permits in Kentucky have been sitting idle for the last five years. The coal companies responsible for those mine permits did not produce any coal, nor did they make any progress in cleaning up the sites.
How Home Repairs Enable Energy Efficiency Upgrades
Funding for a Virginia program that helps low-income residents repair their homes and receive energy-efficiency upgrades is at risk.
