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Landmark Settlement Proposed in Kentucky Water Pollution Case
Appalachian Voices, along with a coalition of citizens’ groups, has reached a historic agreement with International Coal Group, Inc. (ICG), and the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet over years of false reporting and water pollution violations in Eastern Kentucky and a failure by the state to enforce the Clean Water Act. We are very glad…
Read MoreBig Coal, Utilities Dominate Virginia Energy Policy, Report Says
Citizens Highlight Money in Politics on Eve of Governor’s Energy Conference Appalachian Voices * Sierra Club Virginia * Chesapeake Climate Action Network For Immediate Release October 2, 2012 Contacts: Tom Cormons, Appalachian Voices, 434-981-6506, tom@appvoices.org Glen Besa, Sierra Club Virginia, 804-387-6001, glen.besa@sierraclub.org Beth Kemler, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, 202-641-0955, beth@chesapeakeclimate.org Richmond – In advance of…
Read MoreReport Exposes How Big Coal, Electric Utility Money Dominates Virginia Politics and Policy
In advance of the Governor’s Energy Conference that is sponsored by Dominion Virginia Power, Alpha Natural Resources and Appalachian Power Company, Appalachian Voices and our allies released a white paper highlighting the influence that coal companies and utilities wield over Virginia energy policy. “The top sponsors of the energy conference are also top sponsors of…
Read MoreJudge Rules for Coal Companies’ Attempts to Destroy Historic Blair Mountain
A federal judge in Washington, D.C. ruled today against groups working to return Blair Mountain to the National Register of Historic Places to prevent future surface mining operations from encroaching on the historic site of the Battle of Blair Mountain. Here is what Charleston Gazette reporter Ken Ward Jr. posted about the ruling: I’ve posted…
Read MoreGo Tell It on Mountain Island Lake
Last Sunday, the Charlotte Observer asked the question, “Are we doing enough on coal ash?” Two people stepped in to answer. The column in the negative was written by Sam Perkins, Director of Technical Programs for the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation; the column in the affirmative was written by Mitch Griggs, vice president of environmental services…
Read MoreRevealing the True Cost of Coal by Taking the “Con” Out of Economics
At the Democratic National Convention, Appalachian Voices’ staff attended and participated in several panel discussions and events relevant to our work. Perhaps the most engaging forum that I was fortunate enough to attend was the “Summit for a Sustainable Economy,” hosted by the American Sustainable Business Council. Shortly after I arrived, flipped through the materials…
Read MoreComing Soon: 5th Annual Weekend in Wise
The 5th Annual Weekend in Wise County, hosted by the Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards and the Wise Energy for Virginia Coalition amid Virginia’s treasured Appalachian Mountains, is just around the corner. October 12 through 14, experience the beauty and culture of southwest Virginia and learn about mountaintop removal coal mining. Participate in tours of mountaintop…
Read MoreThe Senate and the L’awful’ Coal Ash Bill
To put it mildly, the supposed coal ash regulation bill S. 3512 falls short of our expectations. The bill — proposed last July by Sens. Hoeven (R-SD), Conrad (D-SD), and Baucus (D-MT) — shields utilities from their obligations to upgrade their unsafe ash dumps in a timely fashion, clean up sites that they have contaminated,…
Read MoreAfter Coal: Welsh and Appalachian Mining Communities
What happens to a community historically centered around coal mining when the coal runs out? The story of fossil fuels is a story of booms and busts, and reports indicate that Central Appalachia is on the brink of the greatest bust yet. Central Appalachian coal is running out — the U.S. Energy Information Administration anticipates…
Read MoreLooking Beyond November
Last week, Appalachian Voices was on the front lines of our democracy at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte. Our “bourbon and bluegrass” reception for our friends and allies was a smashing success, with impassioned calls to end mountaintop removal coal mining and rousing endorsements of our work from Sen. Ben Cardin, Van Jones and…
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