All Posts
Appalachian Voices celebrates historic investments in Abandoned Mine Land Program
CONTACT: Dana Kuhnline, RECLAIM Campaign Coordinator, dana@appvoices.org, (304) 825-3262 Jamie Goodman, Digital Communications Specialist, comms@appvoices.org, (828) 719-9493 APPALACHIA — Late Friday night, the U.S. House passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which includes reauthorization of the Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Program and provides an additional $11.3 billion for abandoned mine cleanup. This bipartisan bill…
Read MoreThe Sun is Shining on Southwest Virginia’s Growing Solar Industry
Learn about several exciting updates on the bright future for Southwest Virginia’s growing solar energy industry, broken down into four categories: 1) residential solar, 2) commercial solar, 3) utility solar and 4) shared solar!
Read MoreHow acid mine drainage fits into pending mine cleanup legislation: A conversation with Joe Pizarchik
Joe Pizarchik, former head of OSMRE and one of the nation’s foremost experts on complex and sprawling abandoned mine lands issues, provides an essential overview of how acid mine drainage fits into pending legislative proposals and where we should look next.
Read MoreFrom the Rockies to Appalachia: Virginia can look to Colorado for electric co-op reform
Undemocratic governance at Virginia’s electric cooperatives is a serious issue that has left co-op members across the state frustrated and ready for reform. Closed-door board meetings and unfair voting practices are two of the issues members hope to change in 2022.
Read MorePotential Federal Action Would Address Common and Harmful “Forever Chemicals”
Congress and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency could soon take steps to protect communities from an incredibly common but little-known family of man-made chemicals that have been accumulating in waterways and in people’s blood for decades.
Read MoreConfronting acid mine drainage: A conversation with Rural Action’s Marissa Lautzenheiser
In this conversation, Marissa Lautzenheiser of Rural Action lays out the basics of the acid mine drainage challenge, discusses the unique funding needs for AMD clean-up, and talks about some of the innovative work Rural Action is doing to tackle this problem.
Read MoreMiners with black lung call on Congress to protect benefits
In an August webinar, advocates and representatives of the Black Lung Association discussed the critical importance for the passage of a permanent 25% increase to the Black Lung Excise Tax on coal companies.
Read MoreProposed NC energy bill would enrich Duke Energy at its customers’ expense
Legislation that Duke Energy and NC Republican lawmakers have crafted in secret for the better part of six months is a horrific piece of public policy.
Read MoreVirginia Outlaws Box Turtles as Pets
The new regulation, which took effect in July, aims to reduce poaching and mitigate turtle population decline from habitat loss.
Read MoreEPA says Corps must reject federal water crossing permit for Mountain Valley Pipeline
CONTACT: Cat McCue, 434-293-6373, cat@appvoices.org Amy Adams, 828-964-7431, amy@appvoices.org The Environmental Protection Agency has recommended to the Corps of Engineers that it not issue a stream-crossing permit currently under consideration for the controversial Mountain Valley Pipeline. In a May 27 letter to the Corps, the EPA said that MVP has failed to show that muddy…
Read More