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.
Petition Focuses on Va. Regulatory Failures
Appalachian Voices recently joined the Sierra Club, Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards and Appalachian Mountain Advocates to file a formal petition with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency alleging that a Virginia agency had failed to comply with requirements of the Clean Water Act since 2011.
Atlantic Coast Pipeline Proposal Advances
Duke Energy, Dominion Resources and other partners are teaming up to build a 550-mile pipeline to better access natural gas produced in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, where fracking has proliferated in the Marcellus and Utica shale formations.
Energy Savings Advances in Tennessee and North Carolina
This September in Tennessee, Appalachian Voices participated in an energy efficiency “retreat” that brought the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association and six of its member cooperatives together with a number of state agencies and numerous experts in energy efficiency finance.
North Carolinians React to Proposed Fracking Rules
The N.C. Mining and Energy Commission held public hearings in August and September on the proposed rules it has put forth to regulate fracking in the state. At each of the four hearings held across the state, North Carolinians overwhelmingly expressed concerns with the rules’ shortcomings and the state’s rush to begin fracking.
Gainesville Commission Votes to End Mountaintop Removal Coal Purchases
On Sept. 18, city commissioners in Gainesville, Fla., voted 5-2 for a policy that could end the local power plant’s purchases of Appalachian coal mined by mountaintop removal, and they unanimously adopted a resolution opposing the destructive practice. The move makes Gainesville the first city with a municipal utility to adopt such a policy.
Appalachian Power seeks solar “standby” charge
Virginia’s second-largest electric utility wants permission to levy a charge on residential customers who produce their own power but remain connected to the grid.
Black lung disease reaches near-record levels
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has released research on the “entirely preventable” resurgence of black lung among coal miners.
Rallying for Appalachian Environmental Justice
Appalachian Voices has recently been on the road and joining up with many of our partners to stand strong on mountaintop removal coal mining and climate change.
Appalachian Voices Hosts Wild & Scenic Film Festival in Knoxville
A special selection of award-winning films about nature, community activism, adventure and conservation are screening Thursday, Oct 30 at the Bijou Theater in Knoxville, Tenn.
Don’t Tax the (Virginia) Sun
Appalachian Voices and coalition partners recently helped hundreds of Virginians stand up to oppose an unfair tax on residential solar installation.
