Front Porch Blog Archives < Page 15 of 71

Even as 2022 Virginia General Assembly wraps up, threats of environmental rollbacks continue

By Peter Anderson | June 23, 2022 |

Virginia Field Coordinator Jessica Sims observes a session of the House of Delegates. Photo by Jen Lawhorne

With the signing of the budget, the Virginia General Assembly wrapped up a session filled with challenges and disappointments.

Congress considers bills to address coal mining impacts at June hearing

By Erin Savage | June 22, 2022 |

During a recent U.S. House Natural Resources subcommittee hearing, Erin Savage of Appalachian Voices and two other Appalachian residents testified about acid mine drainage, abandoned mine sites and the impacts of ongoing mountaintop removal coal mining.

Hands Across the Appalachian Trail event celebrates the AT and rallies MVP opponents

By Jessica Sims | June 16, 2022 |

Activists and partners gather for the Hands Across the Appalachia Trail event. Photo by Russell Chisholm

On Saturday, May 28, more than 65 community members, advocates and allies fighting the Mountain Valley Pipeline celebrated the treasured Appalachian Trail — and the return of the annual “Hands Across the Appalachian Trail” event.

We won’t give up on justice for the Kingston coal ash workers

By Brianna Knisley | June 10, 2022 |

Rally outside of Jacobs Engineering in Knoxville in December 2019. To the left of the photo in the brown hat is the late John Stewart, a former TVA employee and unyielding advocate for the Kingston workers. Photo by Todd Waterman

Hundreds of workers who helped clean up after the massive Kingston Fossil Plant coal ash spill have gotten sick and dozens have died. A hearing before the Tennessee Supreme Court was the latest stop in the ongoing battle for justice.

Planning ahead for a bright future in Virginia

By Emily Piontek | June 8, 2022 |

This Sun Tribe Solar project utilizes native plantings, which provide pollinator habitat and reduce erosion. By creating a cooler microclimate, native plantings can even increase the efficiency of the panels! Photo by Sun Tribe Solar

Solar is essential to meeting urgent emissions reduction goals, but concerns about smart land use and the community and environmental impacts of large-scale solar don’t have easy answers.

TVA’s decision to stick with fossil fuels at Cumberland plant isn’t final

By Angie Mummaw | June 7, 2022 |

Under TVA's plan, smokestacks at the Cumberland Fossil Plant would continue to spew pollution into the air. Photo by Angie Mummaw

TVA’s decision to convert coal-fired plants to fracked gas will lead to enormous environmental consequences — while providing fewer jobs than renewable energy.

The North Carolina People’s Energy Plan

By Maddy Koch | June 2, 2022 |

The North Carolina People’s Energy Plan seeks a cleaner, more affordable, more just energy system for the state.

Duke Energy’s Carbon Plan falls far short

By Josh McClenney | May 27, 2022 |

Duke Energy would miss important deadlines for reducing carbon emissions and continue relying on polluting fuels if it’s inadequate Carbon Plan moves forward.

Current mine clean-up laws aren’t meeting the challenge of the situation

By Dan Radmacher | May 4, 2022 |

The system to ensure that surface mines get cleaned up and restored is under intense strain as the coal industry declines, leading to dangerous conditions at many mines and putting taxpayers at risk of having to foot the bill eventually.