Written by Ridge Graham
Ridge Graham
A graduate of Appalachian State University with a B.S. in ecology and evolutionary biology, Ridge served as our AmeriCorps Outreach Associate from 2015-17 and is now on staff as the Field Coordinator for our North Carolina program.
The Energy Savings for Appalachia program is expanding: Part 2
After achieving success in the North Carolina High Country, we are expanding the Energy Savings for Appalachia campaign to the service territory of the Surry-Yadkin Electric Membership Corporation.
NC DEQ’s blatant bid for control
Over the past few months, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality has seemed determined to have complete environmental regulatory control with little regard for federal or public input. In this endeavor, DEQ has taken every chance to highlight how external forces, including citizens groups and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, are simply getting in its way.
Two steps forward, one step back on coal ash in N.C.
North Carolina communities impacted by coal ash celebrated two positive strides forward recently, only to be disappointed by another fast move on the part of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality and Duke Energy that keeps too many citizens in limbo in terms of resolving polluted drinking water.
Victory for public health in Duke Energy settlement
After 15 years of legal wrangling with Duke Energy, federal lawyers have finally reached a settlement over charges the utility has been illegally emitting air pollution at several of its North Carolina power plants. Duke will have to close 13 of its coal-fired units by 2024. While that’s good news for its neighbors, there’s still the problem of polluted water from Duke’s coal ash ponds.
