Written by Matt Wasson
Matt Wasson
As Appalachian Voices' Director of Programs, Matt has worked on all aspects of the "coal cycle" — from mining, transportation and combustion to the disposal of power plant waste — and is a nationally recognized authority on mountaintop removal coal mining and coal economics. Matt has testified before Congress and appears frequently on expert panels.
Proposals to put new nuclear reactors near coal mine sites ignore geological hazards
In October 2022, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced a goal of building a new nuclear reactor in Southwest Virginia within the next 10 years, setting off a flurry of excitement among local economic development officials and outrage among local residents who are concerned about the health and safety risks of nuclear power.
Remembering Harvard Ayers, founder of Appalachian Voices
Harvard Ayers, founder of Appalachian Voices, passed away on March 9, 2023. Ayers was a true visionary and leaves behind a powerful legacy for the people and environment of Appalachia.
Duke Energy’s sham plan for net-zero carbon
Duke Energy’s failure to move quickly to clean energy would worsen global warming, put the public’s health at risk, and hurt North Carolina families and businesses.
Help protect North Carolina’s forest wilderness
More than 50 years after the Wilderness Act was signed into law, less than one third of one percent of North Carolina’s land area has been protected as wilderness. The U.S. Forest Service is revising its plan for the Pisgah and Nantahala Forests, and is seeking public comment to help determine the future of some beloved places in the state.
A huge win: Gainesville enacts policy to stop using mountaintop removal coal
Because of the heroic efforts of a group of citizens, Gainesville, Fla., became the first city in America to enact a policy to reduce its reliance on mountaintop removal coal. This victory was the culmination of three and a half years of work that included five hearings by the city commission, hundreds of hours of volunteer work and dozens of meetings with city commissioners.
Hey Duke Energy – Buy a Bigger Dump Truck!
Duke Energy and its army of lobbyists apparently have convinced N.C. lawmakers that it’s just too expensive to clean up all of its leaking coal ash dumps. The company’s argument is based on an assumption that it would take 30 years to remove the ash from JUST ONE SITE. “What??” I hear you ask incredulously. So let’s take a deeper look at that …
One fish, two fish … Dead fish
A study from researchers at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) published this month provides strong new evidence that mountaintop removal coal mining in Appalachia is devastating downstream fish populations.
Fortunately, the Obama administration has an opportunity to take meaningful action to protect Appalachian streams.
Who Owns West Virginia’s Water? A Cautionary Tale
The paper trail of West Virginia Public Service Commission filings document the dramatic expansion of American Water Company’s network over the past two decades, and why so many people in this water-rich state depend on a single, privately-owned treatment system and distribution network that sprawls across nine counties for their supply of drinking water.
WATCH: Appalachian Kids Give Science Lesson to President Obama
Children in Appalachian coal mining communities are 42%…
Electoral Math for “All You Climate People”
During a campaign season in which climate change…
