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Cougars still fascinate Appalachian naturalists
By Noa Davidai Pop quiz: Which mammal has the most widespread distribution in the Western Hemisphere? No, it’s not the rat, the squirrel, or even the deer. It is us, ladies and gentleman—human beings. But this was not always, or naturally, the case. In the not-so-distant past, the mammal with the most extensive natural range…
Read MoreAppalachian Voices Launches Upper Watauga RiverKeeper
The Upper Watauga River just got a new friend. Donna Marie Lisenby, an award-winning environmental advocate, began serving on the staff of Appalachian Voices as the first Upper Watauga Riverkeeper this June. Lisenby will be a full-time public advocate for the entire watershed including the Watauga River, the Elk River, Roan Creek and Watauga Lake.…
Read MoreEnergy by and for the people
Public opinion polls are showing a serious problem with the debate over our future sources of energy: the American people strongly agree on solutions. Well over 80 percent of Americans consistently agree on renewable energy and conservation. In poll after poll, people strongly approve of the idea of building a sustainable future for their children.…
Read MoreA High Water Year on the New & Gauley Rivers
By Tom Cormons I made the best move of my life in the spring of 1997. With my ’84 Firebird stuffed with most of the gear I’d use to live outside until October, I left Charlottesville, headed west. I’d made this trip to West Virginia’s New River Gorge many times before, but always knowing that…
Read MoreThe greening of a Cherokee school
The Eastern Band’s new K-12 campus By Margaret V. Williams Seen from high above, the new school might remind you of the outline of the Big Dipper — a short handle with two circles at the end. Zoom in, and you see the circles are two-story buildings ringing huge, one-acre courtyards, and the handle holds…
Read MoreHow Green is your Campus?
There are many ways to find out how green your school is. The US EPA has a green power challenge for colleges, and Princeton Review has a rating system. There are also a dozen ways to make your school greener. And there are new funding initiatives through the Dept. of Education for financing green initiatives…
Read MoreFollow the Coal Money to Your Member Congress.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, August 12, 2008 Contact: Joel Finkelstein or Kate Geller, (202) 822-5200 Trina Zahller, (202) 518-9029 or (202) 744-8578 Dirty Money? FOLLOW THE COAL MONEY TO YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS New Online Tool Shows Shrinking Partisan Divide, Gives First Comprehensive Look at Political Impact of America’s Dirtiest Fuel WASHINGTON, DC and BOONE, NC–…
Read MoreMountain Monday: Your Wallet, Coal, and Electricity Prices
Over the last year, we’ve seen the price of Appalachian coal nearly triple. In 2007, Appalachian coal prices hit a low of around $40/ton on the spot market. But last month, at the end of July 2008, we saw Appalachian coal hit $150/ton. With regional coal production in a long-term decline, we’ll be seeing a…
Read MoreMountain Mondays: Coal pulls a “Gas Prices”
Over the last year, we’ve seen the price of Appalachian coal nearly triple. In 2007, Appalachian coal prices hit a low of around $40/ton on the spot market. But last month, at the end of July 2008, we saw Appalachian coal hit $150/ton. With regional coal production in a long-term decline, we’ll be seeing a…
Read MoreMajor Discovery Primed To Unleash Solar Revolution
By mimicking plants’ energy storage systems, MIT scientists have created solar energy storage for when the sun don’t shine. Coupled with the skyrocketing cost of coal and the onset of massive rate hikes for electricity, this development only further increases both the utility and cost competitiveness of renewable energy. Go MIT! Requiring nothing but abundant,…
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