Front Porch Blog
The ups and downs of the 2021 N.C. legislative session
A long and contentious North Carolina legislative session was marked by a loss against HB 951, a win against HB 220, and an AV team more ready than ever to continue fighting for equity in our energy policies.
Read MoreHelping our neighbors in Kentucky
In the wake of the tragic tornados that devastated communities in western Kentucky last week, our friends at Kentuckians for the Commonwealth are curating a growing list of ways to help.
Read MoreWins and losses come as the fight against the Mountain Valley Pipeline continues
On Dec. 3 — after more than eight hours of public, industry and agency comments spread over two days — six of the seven members of the state Air Pollution Control Board voted to deny the air permit for the Lambert Compressor Station.
Read MoreCoalition formed to protect Virginia from metals mining
At a virtual press conference on Dec. 13, the launch of the “Press Pause Coalition” was announced. The statewide coalition wants a moratorium on state agencies permitting gold, copper, zinc and lead mining.
Read MoreOnline tool helps track status of mine ownership in aftermath of Blackjewel bankruptcy
The fate of thousands of acres of mines requiring tens of millions of dollars of reclamation was thrown into doubt when Blackjewel, Revelation Energy and affiliated mining operations filed for bankruptcy in July 2019.
Read MoreBuilding community awareness to solve acid mine drainage: A conversation with DJ Coker
DJ Coker of Duff, Tennessee found acid mine drainage at a nearby pond that used to be part of a coal mining operation. Now, he’s made it his mission to get the site cleaned up and demand accountability from those responsible. Watch DJ’s story.
Read MoreBlack Lung Association asks Sen. Capito to support 10-year extension of black lung excise tax
Members of the Black Lung Association are asking U.S. Sen. Shelly Moore Capito to support a 10-year extension of the Black Lung Excise Tax to shore up funding for black lung benefits.
Read MoreChatham residents and others to speak against Lambert Compressor Station at air board hearing
On Friday, Virginia’s Air Pollution Control Board will rule on Mountain Valley Pipeline’s hotly contested plan to place a polluting compressor station in a majority Black district already burdened with air pollution from two other compressors.
Read MoreCleaning up mines owned by Gov. Justice and his family would create hundreds of jobs
There is enough outstanding reclamation liability on coal mines owned by West Virginia Governor Jim Justice and/or his adult children to employ 220 to 460 workers for five years, according to our report. Nearly 34,000 acres of Justice-family mines across five states are in need of some degree of environmental cleanup.
Read MoreNC’s bad ratepayer bill passed into law
Despite immense pressure from advocates and ratepayers, NC Gov. Roy Cooper signed HB 951, Duke Energy’s handwritten legislation that will drastically raise rates on families and small businesses, into law.
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